Preview: England vs Nepal – T20 World Cup group game prediction, squads, venue, start time

England will begin their bid to win a 3rd Males’s T20 World Cup once they tackle Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday.

The match represents England’s first main project because the disappointing 4-1 defeat to Australia within the 2025-26 Ashes.

Fifth Check preview

England are set to kick off their T20 World Cup marketing campaign only a month after they accomplished a forgettable Ashes tour down beneath.

The fallout of the 4-1 defeat and the occasions surrounding the tour have continued to make headlines within the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, significantly Harry Brook’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer the day earlier than an ODI in opposition to New Zealand within the build-up to the Ashes.

Brook publicly apologised and insisted he was out alone after the revelation got here out following the top of the Ashes collection, just for it to be later revealed that Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue have been with him on the night time of the incident.

Whereas off-field occasions have made headlines, Brook has loved a profitable interval as white-ball captain, having overseen ODI and T20 collection wins in Sri Lanka.

They accomplished a collection whitewash with a 12-run victory in Tuesday’s remaining T20 in opposition to Sri Lanka, who’re sharing internet hosting duties for the World Cup with India.

The three-0 collection win will give them hope that they will replicate their T20 World Cup-winning campaigns from 2010 and 2024.

In reality, England have gained 10 of their 11 accomplished T20S since Brook was appointed the nation’s whiteball captain in April final 12 months.

Given their energy within the format, England will likely be heavy favourites to high a bunch that options West Indies, Nepal, Scotland and match debutants Italy.

Nonetheless, coach Brendon McCullum is absolutely conscious that his staff have to do much more than progress from the group stage if he’s to alleviate a few of the scrutiny on his place following the Ashes debacle.

Nepal, in the meantime, are competing in simply their third T20 World Cup after that includes in Bangladesh in 2014 and the USA and West Indies in 2024.

They gained all seven video games in final 12 months’s Asia-Pacific Regional Ultimate to qualify for the 2026 competitors, progressing alongside Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Nepal know they should spring a shock to safe a top-two spot in Group C, though their hopes of reaching the Tremendous Eight stage have been boosted by Bangladesh’s resolution to withdraw from the match.

Their replacements, Scotland, will likely be seen as extra beatable opponents, but it surely stays to be seen whether or not Nepal will nonetheless be in with an opportunity of a top-two place by the point they face Richie Berrington’s facet of their remaining group recreation.

Nepal have warmed-up for the match with a few constructive outcomes, beating the UAE by seven wickets earlier than claiming a six-wicket win over Canada on Thursday.

Squad Information

© Imago / IMAGO / Focus Photographs

England opening batter Phil Salt ought to be match to function regardless of lacking the ultimate match of the T20 collection with Sri Lanka as a result of a again spasm.

Star bowler Jofra Archer was rested for Tuesday’s recreation, and it stays to be seen whether or not he’ll play on Sunday or be held again for Wednesday’s match in opposition to West Indies.

Adil Rashid, who took his a hundred and fiftieth T20I wicket within the collection in opposition to Sri Lanka, is the decide of England’s bowlers and can doubtless be a key issue of their bid to attain World Cup glory.

Whereas Brook is ready to steer his nation in a significant match for the primary time, Nepal captain Rohit Paudel already is aware of what the calls for of the position entail after being in cost for his nation’s marketing campaign on the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Wicket-keeper Aasif Sheikh, who is ready to open the batting, ought to be in a assured temper after knocking 58 off 29 balls in Wednesday’s warm-up win over Canada.

Sandeep Lamichane has loads of franchise expertise beneath his belt, and as his nation’s main wicket taker in T20s, he’ll must be on type if his nation are to compete with England on Sunday.

England squad:

Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt (wk), Josh Tongue, Luke Wooden.

Nepal squad:

Rohit Paudel (c) Basir Ahamad, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sundeep Jora, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Aarif Sheikh, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav

The place will England vs Nepal be held?

The match will happen on the Wankhede Stadium, which is the house to the Indian Premier League franchise, the Mumbai Indians.

England performed at this venue on two events within the final T20 World Cup held in India in 2016, which noticed them lose to the West Indies and beat South Africa within the Tremendous 10 stage.

When will England vs Nepal begin?

The day-night recreation will begin at 3pm native time. Meaning it will likely be a 9:30am begin for these watching from the UK.

We are saying: England to win

Boasting world-class expertise in all departments, England would be the overwhelming favourites to start out their T20 World Cup with a win.

In reality, something lower than a snug victory will most likely be seen as an unsatisfactory end result for Brook’s fees.