ICC Men's Т20 World Cup 2026, Match 29: England vs Italy
Included unlimited replays
ICC Men's Т20 World Cup 2026, Match 29: England vs Italy
In a fascinating Group C encounter that pits the established guard against the tournament's biggest surprise package, England and Italy face off in Match 29 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Taking place at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, this match has suddenly become a critical fixture. While England is looking to recover from a bruising loss to the West Indies, Italy arrives with the momentum of their first-ever World Cup victory-a dominant 10-wicket thrashing of Nepal. Catch all the action live on Willow by Cricbuzz.
Head-to-Head: A Historic First This match marks the first-ever T20 International meeting between England and Italy. While England has decades of experience at the highest level, Italy's performance in the opening rounds has proven they are no longer "minnows," especially with a squad bolstered by high-quality talent from the Australian and South African domestic circuits.
Team Form & Recent Results England (L-W-W-W-L) The 2022 champions are in a vulnerable spot. After narrowly escaping an upset against Nepal, their middle order was dismantled by the West Indian spinners in Mumbai. They now face a must-win situation in Kolkata to keep their Super Eight hopes in their own hands.
Last Match: Lost to West Indies by 30 runs (Feb 11, 2026).
Match 1: Defeated Nepal by 4 runs.
Status: Currently 4th in Group C, trailing Italy on Net Run Rate.
Italy (W-L-W-L-W) Italy has become the "Cinderella story" of 2026. Despite an opening loss to Scotland, they scripted history on February 12 by bowling out Nepal for 123 and chasing it down without losing a single wicket.
Last Match: Defeated Nepal by 10 wickets (Justin Mosca 60*, Anthony Mosca 62*).
Match 1: Lost to Scotland by 73 runs.
Injury News: Captain Wayne Madsen remains a doubt with a shoulder injury; Justin Mosca and Anthony Mosca are currently the tournament's most in-form opening pair.
Players in Focus Adil Rashid (England): England's trump card. On the spin-friendly Eden Gardens track, his experience and variations will be the ultimate test for Italy's aggressive Australian-born openers.
Anthony Mosca (Italy): The powerhouse opener. Following his blistering 62* off 32 balls against Nepal, his ability to target the new ball will be Italy's best chance to disrupt England's rhythm.
Harry Brook (England): The young captain. With the top order struggling for consistency, Brook's ability to anchor the innings and finish strong in the death overs is vital for England's survival.
Crishan Kalugamage (Italy): The Sri Lankan-born leg-spinner. Coming off a "Player of the Match" 3/18 performance against Nepal, he will be looking to exploit England's known vulnerabilities against high-quality spin.