England to face Nepal for first time in T20 internationals:Harry Brook to lead English side in Mumbai; NEP beat AFG in T20 WC 2014

On the second day of the T20 World Cup 2026, cricket fans will get to see an exciting match. 2022 champion England will start their campaign against Nepal. This match, to be played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, will be the fifth match of the tournament. This is the first time in cricket history that the England and Nepal teams will face each other in a T20 International. Where to watch the match?
The live broadcast of this match will be on Star Sports Network. Mobile and OTT users can watch live streaming on JioHotstar. You can also stay connected with the Bhaskar English App for updates of every moment of the match. Top performers for ENG since 2024 in T20Is Jos Buttler: One of England’s most successful batsmen. Buttler has scored 3950 runs in 147 matches. His strike rate is 148.66, including 1 century and 28 half-centuries. Adil Rashid: The backbone of the bowling attack. Rashid has taken 150 wickets in 137 matches. An economy of 7.44 makes him extremely dangerous. Jofra Archer: Returning from injury, Archer’s pace will be a big challenge for Nepal. He has performed brilliantly in the recent series against Sri Lanka. Current form of English players
England: Former champions England are ranked third in the ICC rankings. Just before the World Cup, the team made their intentions clear by winning a series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. This time, the team is on the field under the leadership of new captain Harry Brook. Nepal: Nepal’s team reached here after remaining undefeated in the Asia and East-Asia Pacific qualifier. The team qualified for the World Cup by winning all matches in the group stage and super six. Nepal’s team had defeated Afghanistan in the World Cup in 2014. The team has won only 2 matches in the tournament. Top performers of Nepal since 2024 in T20Is Dipendra Singh Airee: Nepal’s biggest hope. He holds the record for the fastest T20 International fifty in just 9 balls. He has scored 1956 runs in 90 matches with a strike rate of 139.11. Sandeep Lamichhane: The team’s most experienced bowler. Sandeep has taken 129 wickets in 67 matches, with his best performance being 5 wickets for 9 runs. Wankhede Stadium, pitch report
Wankhede pitch has always been known for runs. Due to short boundaries, power hitters like Phil Salt and Butler will find it easier to play big shots. Although fast bowlers might get swing in the initial overs, there is less help for spinners here. The average score remains 180+, which can go up to 220. Mumbai weather report
The temperature in Mumbai on Saturday will be around 33 degrees Celsius. Players might face difficulties due to high humidity. Since it’s an evening match, dew will be a major factor in the second innings. According to the weather department, there is no chance of rain. ENG vs NEP, probable playing XI 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 Bhurtel, Asif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel (captain), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Lokesh Bam, Sompal Kami, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane.