England vs Italy, 29th Match, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Group C. This high-stakes clash unfolds today at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. A win here could lock in England’s Super 8s spot amid a tight group table.
The game kicks off at 3:00 PM local time (IST), which is 9:30 AM GMT, under day/night conditions for a 20-over showdown. Eden Gardens, Kolkata, sets the stage for what could be a batting paradise or a tactical battle.
Eden Gardens has delivered balanced tracks so far in the tournament, with an average first-innings score around 181—two wins for teams batting first out of three games. Expect good pace and bounce early for pacers, easing into spin-friendly middle overs as the surface slows, with a quick outfield favoring big hitters. Boundaries aren’t massive, so stroke-makers could feast if they settle in.
Weather looks ideal: sunny skies, highs of 27°C dropping to cooler evenings around 20°C, zero rain chance, light northwest winds at 11 km/h, and low humidity for uninterrupted play.
England sit second in Group C with two wins from three (4 points, NRR -0.143), but West Indies lead unbeaten— a victory today secures their Super 8s progression and eases pressure after a shaky start. Italy, with one win from two (2 points, NRR -0.352), smell blood after stunning Nepal; an upset would jolt the group and boost their debut campaign.
ENG vs ITA Match Details
- Match: England vs ITA, 29th Match
- Teams: ENG vs ITA
- Date: 16 Feb 2026
- Time: 2:30 PM 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Eden Gardens in Kolkata
T20 World 2026 Live Streaming Info
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off on February 7, 2026, and wraps up with the final on March 8, 2026. Hosted across India and Sri Lanka with 20 teams, it spans about a month—group stages from early February, Super 8s mid-month, semis late February/early March, and the final in Colombo or Mumbai.
- In India, tune into Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 2) or stream on Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include SLRC, Channel Eye, and Siyatha TV on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have Sky Sports Cricket, TNT Sports 1, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Sky Go, Discovery+, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app.
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV and Kayo Sports for live streams.
- USA and Canada: Willow TV on TV, Sling TV or Willow HD app for streaming.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ on TV and Sky Go app.
- Bangladesh: Gazi TV (GTV) and Rabith BD app.
- Afghanistan: RTA Sport and Ariana TV.
Rest of the world: ICC.tv for free streaming where no local rights holder exists. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
Catch every boundary without paying via these official free options, perfect for fans in Pakistan and beyond.
Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 29th T20 World Cup match will be live on Willow Cricket.
Live Score Info:
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Probable XIs
England stumbled against Nepal and West Indies early but steadied with a chase over Scotland, exposing top-order woes yet showing middle-order grit. Their bowlers need consistency to back the firepower.
Italy crashed hard in their opener but roared back against Nepal—their first World Cup win—thanks to disciplined bowling and bold chasing, proving they can punch above their weight as the lowest-ranked side.
Key Talking Points
Can England’s stars like Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid fire to crush Italy’s momentum? Italy’s European grit echoes past upsets—watch for their spinners gripping the slowing pitch. Banana-skin alert for the defending champions, who rested big guns in optional training.
Head-to-Head
England and Italy have no prior T20I meetings—this is their first official clash, head-to-head at 0-0. Friendly or associate games show England dominating recent encounters (5 straight wins in last five), but Italy snagged four of nine overall. Expect fireworks in uncharted territory.
England Analysis
Strengths: Explosive batting depth (Salt, Buttler, Brook), world-class pace from Archer/Overton, Rashid’s spin wizardry, and allrounders like Curran/Jacks for balance. Recent Scotland win highlighted chase nous.
Weaknesses: Top-order fragility (early Nepal/WI slips), bowling leaks under pressure.
Key Players: Phil Salt (top-order aggressor), Harry Brook (capt, steady anchor), Jofra Archer (pace threat).
Probable XI: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
Italy Analysis
Strengths: Resilient bowling (Jaspreet Singh, Kalugamage), fearless batting chases (Nepal scalp), allround utility from Smuts/Stewart. Momentum from debut win fuels underdog fire.
Weaknesses: Lacking depth against elite attacks, heavy opening loss exposed fragility vs pace.
Key Players: Harry Manenti (capt, middle-order steel), Anthony Mosca (opener), Crishan Kalugamage (wicket-taker).
Probable XI: Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti (C), Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (WK), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.
England’s superior squad depth, batting firepower, and bowling arsenal should overwhelm Italy on a pitch suiting their strengths, despite upset potential. Form edges the Three Lions, with conditions favoring a 20+ over contest—back England to win chasing 170-180, sealing Super 8s comfortably. Scoreline: England by 25-30 runs or 6 wickets