England vs Nepal Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 2026, Wankhede
Match summary
England start their T20 World Cup against Nepal at the Wankhede in their first T20I meeting. Our preview covers form, key players, pitch, weather and XIs.
Match details
| Match | England vs Nepal, 5th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 8 Feb 2026 |
| Start time | 9:30 am GMT / 3:00 pm local |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | England |
| Toss pick | England |
Matches in this series
Match preview
England begin their T20 World Cup campaign at the Wankhede against Nepal, who they have never met in a T20I. Ranked third in the ICC men’s T20I rankings, they are widely regarded as well-rounded, and their build-up has been encouraging, including a clean sweep of Sri Lanka in Pallekele with two rain-affected DLS wins and a 12-run victory in the last match, plus a series win over New Zealand. Phil Salt has 394 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 173.56, Jos Buttler 250 in ten at 177.3, Adil Rashid 15 wickets in eight and Liam Dawson 11 in eight.
England’s Wankhede record is two wins and two losses, including the 2016 World Cup final defeat, but with Harry Brook captaining they are clear favourites.
Nepal won every match in the group stage and Super Six rounds of the Asia & EAP Qualifier, with wins over Japan, Samoa, Oman, Qatar and the UAE, including a 124-run win against Samoa and a one-run win over the UAE. Aasif Sheikh has 280 runs in nine matches, Kushal Bhurtel 258 in ten, and Sandeep Lamichhane 13 wickets at an economy of 5.32, with Lalit Rajbanshi on eight.
The Wankhede is typically batting-friendly, with true bounce, consistent pace, short boundaries and a quick outfield that make boundaries easy to find. Fast bowlers can get brief early swing from the sea breeze, but must rely on variations afterwards. Spinners find limited help, so accuracy matters more than turn. Dew often matters in night games, though this is an afternoon start.
A warm and sunny afternoon is expected, with temperatures near 28–30 °C. February in Mumbai usually brings very little rain, moderate humidity and light sea breezes, so conditions around 3:00 pm look good for a full match.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 170–190 | – |
| Second innings | 160–180 | – |
England
England are one of the pre-tournament favourites with strong recent form, while Nepal are unbeaten through qualification but face a first meeting with a top side.
Toss pick: England
FAQ
Who is expected to win England vs Nepal?
Our preview picks England, who are rated one of the tournament favourites.
Have England and Nepal met in T20Is before?
No, this will be their first T20I meeting, and Nepal’s first match at the Wankhede.
What is England’s record at the Wankhede?
England have two wins and two losses there, including the 2016 World Cup final defeat.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
England
- Phil Saltwk
- Ben Duckett
- Will Jacks
- Harry Brookc
- Jos Buttler
- Sam Curran
- Liam Dawson
- Jamie Overton
- Adil Rashid
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
Nepal
- Aasif Sheikhwk
- Kushal Bhurtel
- Rohit Paudelc
- Dipendra Singh Airee
- Kushal Malla
- Gulshan Jha
- Sompal Kami
- Sandeep Lamichhane
- Lalit Rajbanshi
- Karan KC