England faces Nepal in the 5th match of Group C at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a crucial opener for both sides chasing early momentum in Mumbai. Scheduled for February 8, 2026, at Wankhede Stadium, the game kicks off at 3:00 PM local time (IST), promising a lively day/night clash under the lights.
This encounter pits the two-time T20 World Cup winners against an Associate nation on the rise, with England aiming to build on their dominant recent run while Nepal looks to make a statement. The venue, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, has hosted iconic T20 games, including high-scoring thrillers during past World Cups.
Wankhede’s pitch typically favors batsmen with its flat surface and short boundaries, setting up potential 200-plus totals, though spinners can find grip in the middle overs as seen in recent India matches there. Weather forecasts clear skies with temperatures around 27-29°C, low humidity over 30%, and light winds of 9-11 km/h—no rain interruptions expected for a full game.
For England, this is a must-win to silence off-field noise around captain Harry Brook’s recent nightclub controversy and assert dominance early in Group C. Nepal, in their third T20 World Cup and second straight, sees it as a golden chance to upset a giant, building on near-misses like their 2024 stunner against South Africa. Both enter unbeaten in recent outings, making it a test of depth under pressure.
England boasts 10 wins in their last 11 T20Is, including a 3-0 sweep over Sri Lanka with versatile batting and spin control from Adil Rashid and backups like Will Jacks. Losses are rare, but they crave consistency against lesser lights after past Associate slip-ups. Nepal rides a five-match T20 winning streak, smashing UAE and Canada in warm-ups, plus a flawless qualifying run against Kuwait, Japan, and Qatar.
ENG vs NEP Match Details
- Match: England vs Nepal, 5th Match
- Teams: ENG vs NEP
- Date: 08 Feb 2026
- Time: 2:30 PM 9:30 AM GMT / 3:00 PM LOCAL
- Venue: Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai
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:
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Pakistan: PTV Sports broadcasts all matches live for free on TV via terrestrial, cable, and satellite—no subscription needed.
Live Streaming Info:
The 5th T20 World Cup match will be live on Star Sports.
Live Score Info:
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: All matches on ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Probable XIs
ENG Probable XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.
NEP Probable XI: Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nandan Yadav, Sher Malla.
Head-to-Head
England and Nepal have no prior T20I meetings—this marks their maiden international clash, adding intrigue to the unknown. In limited-overs history, encounters are scarce, with Nepal holding edges in rare sixes formats, but England dominates Full Member levelups. No last five meetings exist, but Nepal’s fearless Associate record (e.g., wins over Scotland, PNG) signals upset potential.
England Analysis
England’s strength lies in explosive top-order firepower from Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, backed by middle-order muscle in Harry Brook and allrounders Sam Curran and Will Jacks. Weaknesses? Spin vulnerability, though Rashid’s form (consistent wickets at 38) and Liam Dawson plug gaps. Recent momentum peaks with high scores like 357/3 in an ODI and T20 chases, plus Jofra Archer’s pace return boosting death overs.
Nepal Analysis
Nepal thrives on top-order aggression from Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel, with captain Rohit Paudel anchoring and Dipendra Airee adding middle-order punch. Bowling firepower from Sandeep Lamichhane’s mystery spin (250+ T20 wickets) and quicks Karan KC, Sompal Kami poses threats, but batting depth beyond top four remains a weakness against elite pace. Recent wins showcase resilience, like chasing 162 vs Canada and List A triumphs, fueled by Nepal Premier League success.
Key Talking Points
Brook’s leadership amid scrutiny could define England’s focus, while Lamichhane’s return post-legal woes eyes Rashid in a spin duel. Wankhede’s batter-friendly nature tests Nepal’s attack, but England’s depth versus Nepal’s giant-killing hunger promises fireworks. Phil Salt’s fitness and Tom Banton’s form (54 off 33 recently) add intrigue.
England’s superior firepower, recent dominance (10/11 wins), and Wankhede mastery should overpower Nepal, despite the Associates’ momentum—expect a 25-30 run victory chasing 180-200. Nepal might compete early via spin, but England’s allround balance tips it 98% in their favor.