England to Kick Off T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign Against Nepal in Mumbai

Cricket fans will witness a thrilling match on the second day of the T20 World Cup 2026, as Sunday features the 2022 champions England beginning their World Cup journey against Nepal.

This match, the fifth of the tournament, is scheduled to start at 3:15 PM at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This marks the first time the teams of England and Nepal will face each other in a T20 International match in cricket history.

England's Top Players Post-2024

• Jos Buttler: He is one of England's most successful batsmen. Buttler has scored 3950 runs in 147 matches. His strike rate is 148.66, which includes 1 century and 28 half-centuries.

• Adil Rashid: He is the main pillar of the bowling attack. Rashid has taken 150 wickets in 137 matches. An economy rate of 7.44 makes him a very dangerous bowler.

• Jofra Archer: Archer, who is making a comeback after injuries, will pose a significant challenge to Nepal with his fast pace. He performed excellently in the recent series against Sri Lanka.

Current Team Form

• England: Former champions England are ranked third in the ICC rankings. Just before the World Cup, the team made their strong intentions clear by winning series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. This time, the team will take the field under the leadership of new captain Harry Brook.

• Nepal: Nepal's team reached this stage by remaining undefeated in the Asia and East-Asia Pacific Qualifiers. The team qualified for the World Cup by winning all matches in the group stage and Super Sixes. Nepal defeated Afghanistan in the 2014 World Cup and has won only 2 matches in the World Cup so far.

Nepal's Top T20 Players Post-2024

• Dipendra Singh Airee: He is Nepal's biggest hope. He holds the record for the fastest T20 International half-century in just 9 balls. He has scored 1956 runs in 90 matches at a strike rate of 139.11.

• Sandeep Lamichhane: The most experienced bowler in the team. Sandeep has taken 129 wickets in 67 matches, with his best performance being 5 wickets for 9 runs.

Pitch Report

The Wankhede pitch is always known for runs. Due to the small boundaries, power hitters like Phil Salt and Buttler will find it easy to play big shots. While fast bowlers might get some swing in the initial overs, there is little help for spinners here. The average score here remains 180+, which can even reach 220.

Weather Update

The temperature in Mumbai on Saturday will be around 33 degrees Celsius. High humidity might cause some discomfort for the players. 

Since the match will be held in the evening, dew will play a significant role in the second innings. According to the weather department, there is no chance of rain.

Probable Playing-XI for Both Teams

• England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (Wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Harry Brook (Captain), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

• Nepal: Kushal Malla, Asif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel (Captain), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Lokesh Bam, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane.