ENG vs ITA Prediction Match 29- Who Will Win Today? ICC T20 World Cup 2026

England vs Italy prediction [Source: @ICC/x.com]

England are set to lock horns with Italy in Match 29 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on Monday, February 16 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The match kicks off at 3:00 PM IST and promises a proper contrast of styles: one side chasing qualification, the other playing fearless cricket with nothing to lose.

England are sitting pretty with two wins in three matches and one foot already in the next round. Another win here and they join West Indies as the second team from Group C to seal qualification.

For Italy, the road ahead is steep. Qualification looks far away, but after their thumping 10-wicket win over Nepal, they have shown they can punch above their weight.

ENG vs ITA current form

England head into this clash with strong momentum, winning four of their last five matches and looking like a well-settled unit despite a minor blip along the way against West Indies. Italy, on the other hand, have had an up-and-down run with two wins and three losses in their last five games.

ENG vs ITA player battles

Anthony Mosca vs Jofra Archer

Anthony Mosca has been Italy’s batting backbone. In the last game against Nepal, he smashed a belligerent fifty and made the chase look like a walk in the park. He loves taking on the new ball and setting the tone early.

But standing in his way will be Jofra Archer. With the new ball in hand, Archer is pure menace. He struck twice against Scotland and looked in rhythm. This battle upfront could set the tone for the entire match. If Archer strikes early, England get control. If Mosca survives, Italy get belief.

Ali Hasan vs Jos Buttler

Ali Hasan brings left-arm pace and angles. He swings the new ball and loves attacking stumps early. Jos Buttler, meanwhile, hasn’t hit top gear yet in the tournament. He is due for a big one.

This face-off in the powerplay will be fascinating. Hasan will try to trap Buttler early. Buttler will look to break the shackles and get England flying.

Ben Manenti vs Adil Rashid

Ben Manenti has quietly been one of Italy’s best batters. He already has a fifty in the tournament and knows how to anchor the middle overs.

On the other hand, Adil Rashid has been simply sensational. His variations and control in the middle overs have tied down batters and picked wickets. When these two meet, expect a proper chess match in the middle overs.

ENG vs ITA top performers

This will be the first-ever meeting between England and Italy in T20 internationals. So there’s no head-to-head history or past records between the two sides.

ENG vs ITA toss prediction

Eden Gardens has been a strong batting surface, especially for teams batting first. Day games here tend to get slightly tricky while chasing as the pitch starts gripping and slowing down.

A total around 180 is usually defendable. The captain winning the toss is likely to bat first, put runs on the board and let the bowlers defend with scoreboard pressure.

ENG vs ITA 1st innings score prediction

Powerplay- 48/1

Final score- 185/4

ENG vs ITA 2nd innings score prediction

Powerplay- 42/2

Final score- 149/8

ENG vs ITA top players prediction

England top players' prediction

Probable best batters

Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell

Probable best bowlers

Sam Curran, Adil Rashid

Italy’s top players prediction

Probable best batters

Anthony Mosca, Ben Manenti

Probable best bowlers

Ali Hasan, Crishan Kalugamage

Who will hit the most sixes in ENG vs ITA Match 29?

Jos Buttler

Who will score the most boundaries in ENG vs ITA Match 29?

Jacob Bethell

ENG vs ITA Match Winner Prediction: Who will win Match 29?

On paper, England look miles ahead. Their batting depth, experience and bowling variety make them clear favourites. But Italy have shown they play fearless cricket and don’t carry baggage.

If England bring their A-game, they should cruise into the next round. But if they take Italy lightly, this could turn into a banana peel moment. Still, expect England to hold their nerve and seal qualification with a professional win.