England face Nepal in a T20 World Cup 2026 Group C match at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. The match starts at 3 PM IST. England are heavy favorites going into their first game of the tournament. Nepal are the underdogs in what will be the first-ever T20 international between these two teams.
England has won the T20 World Cup twice. They enter this match after winning a 3-0 T20I series against Sri Lanka. Harry Brook leads the side. Nepal qualified by topping the Asia-EAP regional qualifier. They are making their third World Cup appearance after 2014 and 2024. Both times, they finished in the bottom half without reaching the Super Eight stage.
England’s Batting Firepower
England has one of the strongest batting lineups in the tournament. Phil Salt opens alongside Jos Buttler. Salt has scored 1,587 runs in 52 T20 internationals at a strike rate of 166.52. That makes him one of the most aggressive openers in world cricket right now. He hits boundaries from the first ball.
Harry Brook captains the side and bats in the middle order. He scored 136 runs off 66 balls in a recent ODI against the Sri Lanka team. That innings showed he is in excellent form coming into the World Cup. Will Jacks and Sam Curran provide more firepower down the order. Both can score quick runs in the final overs.
England’s bowling looks equally strong. Adil Rashid has taken 150 wickets in 137 T20 internationals. His leg-spin makes scoring difficult in the middle overs. Luke Wood offers left-arm swing at the start. England have options for every phase of the innings, following the tournament hype built around the official song launch ahead of the competition.
Nepal’s Upset Potential
Nepal enters this match with nothing to lose. They won warm-up matches against Canada and the UAE. That gave them some confidence before facing a top team. Captain Rohit Paudel leads a side that knows they are underdogs. That freedom can sometimes help teams play better cricket.
Sandeep Lamichhane is Nepal’s main threat with the ball. The leg-spinner has troubled good batters in domestic leagues around the world. If he can get early wickets, Nepal has a chance. Wankhede Stadium offers a turn for spinners in the middle overs. Lamichhane will look to exploit that.
Dipendra Singh Airee provides all-around skills. He can bat in the middle order and bowl a few overs. Kushal Bhurtel opens the batting and needs to give Nepal a strong start. They cannot afford to lose early wickets chasing a big total at Wankhede.
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Wankhede Pitch Factor
The pitch at Wankhede Stadium favors batters. Teams usually score between 170 and 180 runs in the first innings here. The boundaries are short. That helps power hitters clear the rope easily. England’s batting lineup is built for these conditions.
The ball swings early under the lights. Nepal’s pace bowlers will get some help in the first three overs. After that, the pitch settles down, and batting becomes easier. Spinners get a turn in the middle overs. That is where Lamichhane will be most dangerous.
The dew should not be a major factor in this evening’s match. The ball might get a bit wet later, but Mumbai in February does not see heavy dew. That means both teams can plan their bowling strategies normally.
Match Prediction
England should win this match comfortably. They have more experience, better players, and a stronger all-round team. AI predictions give England a 93-96% chance of winning. Nepal sits at around 10 to 15 percent.
Nepal can cause an upset only if several things go right. Lamichhane needs to take three or four wickets. England’s top order has to have a bad day. The pitch has to slow down more than expected. All those factors together might give Nepal a chance. But that is unlikely.
The key battle will be Harry Brook against Sandeep Lamichhane. If Brook scores 50 or more runs, England will post a big total. If Lamichhane gets him early, Nepal have a slim opening. Phil Salt’s approach in the power play will also matter. He can take the game away from Nepal in the first six overs.
England has won this tournament twice before. They share the record with the West Indies. Nepal has never won a match in the Super Eight stage. That gap in experience and quality makes England overwhelming favorites for Sunday’s clash.
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