Nepal vs. England LIVE: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 - Cricket Scores, Radio Commentary, and Video Highlights
Live Reporting
Scorecard
Summary
- England wins the toss and opts to bat first
- T20 World Cup, Group C
- Tune into BBC Radio 5 Live Sport commentary available at the top of this page
- Share your thoughts using the 'Get Involved' button on this page
Live Reporting
By Elizabeth Botcherby
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Published at 09:29 GMT
Steven Finn, Former England Fast Bowler on BBC Test Match Special
England has recently seen a decline from its position as the premier white-ball team globally. Interestingly, this shift might actually work in their favor. Being seen as underdogs allows them to approach the game with less pressure. When expectations are set high, like aiming for a final, it can intensify the stress on the players.
Published at 09:29 GMT
Fans of Nepal are buzzing with excitement for this match. Our head of cricket, Adam Mountford, captured some fantastic photos before the game, showcasing the vibrant atmosphere.See AlsoRoy Keane's U-Turn on Michael Carrick's Man Utd Job! | What It MeansJannik Sinner's Lucky Escape: Overcoming Cramps and Extreme Heat at the Australian OpenChelsea FC vs West Ham: Starting XI, Team News, and Injury Updates | Premier LeagueMan Utd's Double Chelsea Swoop? January Transfer Window Latest & Liverpool Updates!How about this stat?!
Published at 09:28 GMT
Kieran Parmley, CricViz Analyst
Choosing to bat first could turn out to be a clever decision by Harry Brook. Observations from yesterday's match indicate that conditions at Wankhede favored swing and seam bowling more in the second innings compared to the first—though today’s start time is later than it was yesterday.
Average movement during India vs. USA yesterday:
* 1st Innings - 0.79° swing, 0.50° seam
* 2nd Innings - 1.12° swing, 0.69° seam
Published at 09:26 GMT
Steven Finn
As a player, one must navigate a myriad of distractions and focus solely on the game. The ongoing noise and speculation surrounding off-field matters will persist, but their intensity will largely depend on how well England performs on the field.Listen live
Published at 09:25 GMT
BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
You can catch ball-by-ball commentary of England’s T20 World Cup opener against Nepal on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Just click the ‘listen live’ button at the top or head over to BBC Sounds.
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Published at 09:23 GMT
Matthew Henry, BBC Sport Journalist in Mumbai
Today, there seems to be a strong presence of Nepalese fans in Mumbai. Just an hour before the match began, Marine Drive was buzzing with energy, seemingly filled with Nepal supporters who outnumbered England fans dramatically—perhaps 50 to 1! I spoke with numerous supporters who traveled here specifically for this match.
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England's T20 World Cup Schedule
- February 8 – England vs. Nepal (09:30 GMT, Mumbai)
- February 11 – England vs. West Indies (13:30 GMT, Mumbai)
- February 14 – England vs. Scotland (09:30 GMT, Kolkata)
- February 16 – England vs. Italy (09:30 GMT, Kolkata)
- Super 8s: February 21 – March 1 (subject to qualification)
- Semi-finals: March 4-5
Final: March 8
Published at 09:21 GMT
Nepal’s captain, Rohit Paudel, expressed, "We would have preferred to bowl first. Given the conditions, chasing would have been a solid strategy. We’re accustomed to our slower pitches, and since it’s a used wicket, a bit of spin is expected." When asked about playing all group matches in Mumbai, he added, "Having all our games here gives an edge to whichever team plays all four here. Playing in Indian conditions is always beneficial for us."Published at 09:20 GMT
England's captain, Harry Brook, stated, "The pitch will be in prime condition during the first innings. It seemed to offer some spin and bounce during previous matches here. We aim to leverage that. We decided on deploying two frontline pacers with the new ball, while most other selections were already set. We’ve been performing well, and our tour in Sri Lanka served as excellent preparation. I’m feeling confident with my batting, and I hope to make wise decisions as captain, both on and off the field. It’s vital to respect every opponent; we know how unpredictable a T20 World Cup can be. Our main focus is to stay present and adjust to the conditions we face."Salt returns, Duckett left out
Published at 09:19 GMT
Phil Salt makes a comeback after missing England's third T20I against Sri Lanka due to back spasms. Tom Banton, who performed admirably with an unbeaten half-century in the second T20I, is chosen over the struggling Ben Duckett. Jamie Overton is omitted from the bowling lineup, allowing Luke Wood, alongside Jofra Archer and Sam Curran, to lead the pace attack. England also brings four spin options: Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, and Jacob Bethell.Published at 09:17 GMT
England XI: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood.
Nepal XI: Khushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Karan KC, Sher Malla, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane.Published at 09:16 GMT
England emerges victorious at the toss and chooses to bat first. Nepal’s captain, Rohit Paudel, called "tails," but the coin landed on heads. Brook’s decision to bat first seems to resonate well, as Paudel noted he would have chosen to bowl anyway, leaving both teams satisfied with the outcome.Hello!
Published at 09:14 GMT
Greetings and a happy Sunday to everyone!
It’s finally time for the Men’s T20 World Cup featuring England, who are setting their sights on securing their third title. Their opening match is against Nepal, marking their first encounter in T20 International history. Stay tuned for toss results and team announcements!
