ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 | Match 29: England vs Italy | Preview and Predictions

Two-time T20 World Cup champions England need a win after their loss to West Indies while debutants Italy will look to make the world take notice of them as we get ready for a David vs Goliath encounter at the Eden Gardens to kick off a new week filled with cricket.

Here, we present our preview and predictions for the 29th game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 between England and Italy.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 | Match 29: ENG vs ITA | 15:00, February 16, 2026

England have had a mixed start to their T20 World Cup 2026, picking up wins against minnows Nepal and Scotland but went down to a stronger team in West Indies. Harry Brook’s have been inconsistent with the bat with the likes of Phil Salt, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook and Sam Curran all getting good starts but failing to convert them into a big score and take their team to a big total. England bat deep with Liam Dawson at no.8 and Jofra Archer at no.9 both capable of getting some handy runs and with an explosive top order of Salt, Buttler and Bethell, captain Harry Brook will expect to get strong starts from his batters. 

England’s star pacer Jofra Archer has been a tad bit expensive, leaking runs at the top and depth but the other quicks of Sam Curran, Jamie Overton and Luke Wood have been amongst the wickets and clinical. Curran has been a revelation with the bat and ball and on slow, sticky and gripping wickets, Curran and the English spin attack led by the veteran Adil Rashid have been clinical. Rashid, Will Jacks and Liam Dawson have been economical and amongst the wickets and Brook will expect more of the same from them on a pitch they are used to by now.

Italy on the other side are coming off an incredible win over Nepal, which saw the Italians pick up their first-ever T20 World Cup win. The Mosca brothers at the top of the order, Justin and Anthony were key in their 10-wicket win over Nepal and with Harry Manenti and Ben Manenti also getting some runs under their belt in their game against Scotland, the Italian camp will hope for their batters to come good against the English bowling lineup. On a slow and turning Wankhede, Crishan Kalugamage, Ben Manenti and JJ Smuts were all over the Nepal batters and Ben’s brother Harry, who is the captain, will hope his spinners step up once again in Kolkata. 

The Eden Gardens strip has showed that it has runs on offer as always and also something for the slower bowlers. While the Italian team comes into this came after their stunning win against Nepal, it will be asking for too much as England should have the win locked in. 

The runs will be on offer at the Eden Gardens with the spinners getting assistance and given England’s strong spin trio of Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks along with their generally stronger squad, England are the overwhelming favourites to take the win in this encounter. 

Fantasy XI: Jos Buttler (wk), Phil Salt, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti, Ben Manenti, Harry Brook (vc), Sam Curran ©, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Ali Hasan, Crishan Kalugamage

Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Winners Prediction: England