The 29th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will see England take on Italy in Group C at Eden Gardens. The match will begin at 3:00 PM local time (9:30 AM GMT). This will be the first time these two teams meet in a T20 international.
If England wins this game, they will qualify for the Super 8 along with West Indies from Group C.
The pitch at Eden Gardens usually offers a fair contest. Fast bowlers get help early, and spinners become more important as the game goes on. Teams batting first have won nearly 70% of matches here, so the toss could be important.
Let’s analyze the betting odds, pitch conditions, and provide our expert prediction for this Group C fixture.
England vs Italy 29th Match Odds
The betting odds clearly show the big difference in quality and experience between the two teams. England are strong favorites because they are the former T20 World Cup champions.
| Platform | England Win Odds | Italy Win Odds | Toss Odds (England) | Toss Odds (Italy) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.08 | 8.5 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Stake | 1.09 | 8.25 | 1.91 | 1.89 |
| 4RABET | 1.07 | 8.75 | 1.88 | 1.92 |
| BetVibe | 1.08 | 8.4 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
England vs Italy 29th Match Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | ENG vs ITA, 29th Match, Group C |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Monday, February 16, 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM LOCAL, 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
England vs Italy Squad
Here is the squad of both teams for the 29th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
England Squad
Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Philip Salt, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed
Italy Squad
Harry Manenti (c), Gian Meade (wk), Justin Mosca, Anthony Mosca, JJ Smuts, Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan, Wayne Madsen, Syed Naqvi, Zain Ali, Thomas Draca
Pitch Report of Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The famous Eden Gardens provides a balanced pitch. Both batters and bowlers get chances, and the conditions change as the match moves through different stages.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | The wicket remains balanced for most of the game. It offers a decent pace and steady bounce early on, but slows later and starts to help spin bowlers. |
| Batting Assistance | Batters enjoy good playing conditions. The black soil surface provides even bounce, helping them play shots with confidence. |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers get some help in the early overs, especially in night matches with slight swing available. As the pitch wears, spinners gain more grip. |
| Boundaries Dimensions | Straight boundaries are around 71 metres long, while square boundaries are close to 64 metres. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | In T20Is at this venue, teams usually post first-innings totals between 140 and 150 runs. |
| Toss Impact & Dew | Teams winning the toss often choose to bat first, as sides batting first have won nearly 70% of the matches played here. |
Weather Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 28°C, pleasant afternoon conditions will be comfortable for players. |
| Weather | The weather will be clear with a sunny day. |
| Precipitation | There is no chance of rain during the match |
| Humidity | A humidity level of 33%, with minimal impact on ball grip or player stamina. |
| Wind | Wind speed is expected to be 11 km/h. |
England and Italy Head-to-Head in T20Is
England and Italy haven’t faced each other in T20Is; this will be their first T20I match.
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Key Players to Watch
While England has multiple match-winners throughout its lineup, Italy will rely heavily on its experienced campaigners to compete against England.
| Players | T20I Stats |
|---|---|
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 4000 runs in 150 matches at an average of 34.78. |
| Harry Brook (ENG) | 1142 runs in 58 matches at an average of 30.05. |
| Jofra Archer (ENG) | 50 wickets in 40 matches at an economy of 8.16. |
| Justin Mosca (ITA) | 441 runs in 22 matches at an average of 23.21. |
| Crishan Kalugamage (ITA) | 23 wickets in 20 T20Is at an economy of 6.46. |
| Wayne Madsen (ITA) | 205 runs in 8 matches at an average of 34.16. |
