ENG vs ITA Match Prediction: The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup continues with an intriguing Group C clash as England take on Italy in Match 29. Hosted in India, this fixture brings together two sides with contrasting cricketing histories—one a former world champion, the other a fast-rising associate nation chasing a historic breakthrough.
England enter the contest as strong favourites, while Italy will be eager to build on their maiden World Cup victory and challenge one of the tournament heavyweights.
England vs Italy Match 29: Tournament Context
England qualified directly for the 2026 T20 World Cup through their ICC rankings. Their build-up to the tournament was mixed, with defeats against New Zealand in white-ball cricket and a tough Ashes campaign. However, a confidence-boosting T20I series win over Sri Lanka just before the World Cup restored belief.
In the tournament so far, England narrowly escaped against Nepal in their opening game before suffering a defeat to the West Indies. A solid win over Scotland has kept their qualification hopes firmly on track.
Italy, on the other hand, scripted an inspirational qualification story. They topped their initial European Qualifying group and finished second in the final round, ahead of regular World Cup contenders Scotland. In warm-up matches, Italy impressed with wins over Canada and a dominant victory against the UAE.
After a heavy loss to Scotland in their World Cup opener, Italy bounced back strongly by defeating Nepal—registering their first-ever Cricket World Cup win.
ENG vs ITA Match Date, Time and Venue
- Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
- Time: 03:00 PM IST
- Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
England vs Italy Live Streaming Details
Cricket fans in India can watch the England vs Italy T20 World Cup match live on the Star Sports Network. The match will also be live-streamed on the JioHotstar app and website, accessible on mobile, laptop, and smart devices.
ENG vs ITA Squads for T20 World Cup 2026
England Squad
Harry Brook (C), Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Banton (wk), Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
Italy Squad
Wayne Madsen (C), Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, Marcus Campopiano (wk), Gian Meade (wk), Harry Manenti, JJ Smuts, Jasprit Singh, Zian Ali, Syed Naqvi, Ben Manenti, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan, Thomas Draca, Grant Stewert
England vs Italy Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
- Matches Played: 0
- England Wins: 0
- Italy Wins: 0
- No Result: 0
This will be the first-ever T20I meeting between England and Italy.
ENG vs ITA Toss Update
Toss details will be updated after the coin toss.
England vs Italy Predicted Playing XI
England Predicted XI
Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue
Italy Predicted XI
Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Wayne Madsen (C), Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Gian Meade (wk), Grant Stewert, Thomas Draca, Ali Hasan, Crishan Kalugamage
ENG vs ITA Pitch Report – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The pitch at Eden Gardens has traditionally favoured spin bowling, and after a batting-friendly phase in 2024, surfaces here appear to have returned to assisting spinners—especially in the latter stages of an innings.
Batters who capitalize during the powerplay without losing early wickets tend to succeed, while spinners dominate the middle overs. Overall, the pitch should offer a balanced contest between bat and ball.
- Square boundaries: 66–68 meters
- Straight boundary: Up to 78 meters
ENG vs ITA Weather Report
Kolkata is expected to experience a warm afternoon, with temperatures reaching around 30°C. Skies will remain clear, with no rain threat. Humidity will be low, and moderate winds may assist swing bowlers early on.
ENG vs ITA Match 29: Players to Watch
The key players to watch in the England vs Italy clash are:
- Tom Banton (England): An explosive top-order batter capable of changing games quickly
- Anthony Mosca (Italy): A crucial batter for Italy’s stability and scoring momentum
- Adil Rashid (England): England’s primary spin weapon on a turning Kolkata surface
ENG vs ITA Match Prediction: Who Will Win?
Considering squad depth, experience, and match-winning quality across departments, England are clear favourites to win Match 29 of the 2026 T20 World Cup. While Italy have shown promise and fighting spirit, England’s firepower and bowling strength should prove too strong in this encounter.
Match Prediction: England to defeat Italy in Match 29 of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news on CrickSchedule. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest and YouTube for live updates.
