Last Updated on 12 hours ago by Charbel Coorey

England will lock horns against Italy in the 29th game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on 16th February 2026, at 3 PM IST.

England defeated Nepal by four runs in their first game, before losing to the West Indies by 30 runs. They then sealed a crucial 5-wicket win over Scotland in the last game.

All in all, England has been far from their best as a team in this tournament. Their batters, especially the openers, have failed to score big, and the bowling hasn’t been very convincing after three games. 

Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Jofra Archer, and Harry Brook must take responsibility to confirm England’s place in the Super 8 and for them to move forward in the tournament. 

Meanwhile, Italy registered their first-ever T20 World Cup win in the last game against Nepal. The Mosca brothers – Justin Mosca (60* runs) and Anthony Mosca (62* runs) – helped their side chase down 123 runs with 10 wickets in hand. The bowlers set the platform fantastic job, with Crishan Kalugamage (3 wickets) leading the charge. 

This will be a big challenge for Italy, but it’s a do-or-die game for them, and they’ll look to give their all in this match.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 29th Match: ENG vs ITA Probable Playing XIs

England: 1. Phil Salt, 2. Jos Buttler (wk), 3. Jacob Bethell, 4. Tom Banton, 5. Harry Brook (c), 6. Sam Curran, 7. Will Jacks, 8. Jamie Overton, 9. Liam Dawson, 10. Jofra Archer, 11. Adil Rashid

Italy: 1. Anthony Mosca, 2. Juston Mosca, 3. Jon-Jon Smuts, 4. Harry Manenti (c), 5. Marcus Campopiano, 6. Ben Manenti, 7. Grant Stewart, 8. Gian-Pearo Meade (wk), 9. Jaspreet Singh, 10. Crishan Kalugamage. 11. Ali Hasan

Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report and Weather

A good batting wicket will be on offer for both teams. The boundaries are also on the smaller side, which will further aid the batters. Spinners may get some assistance, but overall, the batters will dominate the game. Scores in the range of 150-170 are expected; it can be more if England bats first. Teams are expected to prefer chasing. 

The weather will be clear with no chance of rain, and the temperature will be around 27 degrees Celsius at the start of the game.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for ENG vs ITA: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Jos Buttler has just 50 runs in three games so far. He’s been out of form, but he’ll fancy his chances in this game. Buttler will be a must in your fantasy teams and a top C/VC pick as well. 
• Phil Salt has 33 runs in three games, 30 of which came in only one match. He too has been out for form in this tournament but will be someone you can’t miss out for this game. 

Key batter picks: 

• Jacob Bethell has 120 runs in three games, including a fifty to his name. He will bowl a few overs too if needed. Bethell’s been in good form, and he’ll enjoy batting at the Eden Gardens. He will be an ideal C/VC pick as well, especially if England bats first. 

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Sam Curran has 73 runs and three wickets in this World Cup. He bowls the key overs for England and plays a crucial role with the bat too. Curran will fetch points from both bat and ball, making him a top C/VC choice. 
• Jon-Jon Smuts bats aggressively and will bowl 2-3 overs too. He’ll be a player for Italy and a must in your fantasy teams. Smuts has 22 runs and two wickets in two games so far. 
• Jamie Overton will bowl in the middle and death overs for England. He hits the deck hard and can tonk the ball down the order. Overton has three wickets in two games, but he’s looked off-colour with the bat. 

Key bowler picks: 

• Adil Rashid has five wickets in three games at a strike rate of 13.20 and an economy of 8.54. He can trouble Italy’s middle order with his spin and control. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.
• Jofra Archer has failed to make an impact in the tournament so far. He has been very expensive too with an economy of 9.50 in three games. Archer has four wickets to his name and he will fancy his chances in this match. 
• Ben Manenti will bowl a few overs and will be a crucial batter for Italy. He has scored 52 off 31 in the only innings he’s got to bat this tournament and has picked up two wickets as well.

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Liam Dawson
• Tom Banton
• Harry Brook
• Anthony Mosca
• Justin Mosca

Other Matchups and Facts 

• This will be the first T20I between England and Italy.
• The winner of this game will qualify for the Super 8 round.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 29th Match: ENG vs ITA Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 29th Match: ENG vs ITA Match Prediction: Who will win?

England is a much better side on paper compared to Italy, but no team can be taken lightly in sport, especially seeing the trends in this T20 World Cup. But despite all that, Italy will have to be at their best as a team if they are to win this game. 

England to win.

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.