Group C Preview: England, West Indies & The “Grudge Match” of the Year
If Group A is about “Déjà Vu,” then Group C is about “New Blood vs Old Kings.”
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has thrown together a fascinating mix of cricketing royalty and hungry underdogs. On one side, you have England and West Indies—two nations that share four T20 titles between them. On the other, you have Italy, the tournament’s only debutant, who qualified by stunning the world.
Throw in the passionate Nepal and a Scotland team seeking revenge, and you have a powder keg waiting to explode. The headline act? A grudge match on February 9 between Italy and Scotland that is personal, political, and unmissable.
The Heavyweight: England’s New Era
England enters the tournament as the “Big Brother” of the group. Ranked 3rd in the world, they are a terrifying prospect for any bowler.
The Leadership Shift
The baton has passed. Jos Buttler, the hero of 2022, has stepped down from captaincy, handing the reins to the young prodigy Harry Brook. While Buttler remains as a batter (and a dangerous one at that), this is Brook’s team now.
Key Weapon: Spin to Win
In the turning conditions of Sri Lanka and India, Adil Rashid is England’s trump card. Ranked as the ICC’s No. 4 T20I Bowler, his recent 5-wicket haul against Sri Lanka proves he is peaking at the right time.
England Squad for T20 World Cup 2026
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Harry Brook |
| Power Hitters | Jos Buttler, Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Tom Banton |
| All-Rounders | Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jacob Bethell |
| Bowlers | Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood, Jamie Overton |
Analysis:
- Strength: Batting depth. They have match-winners from No. 1 to No. 8.
- X-Factor: Jofra Archer. Fully fit after his Ashes stint, his pace is the perfect counter to the spin-heavy strategies of other teams.
The Enigma: West Indies Seeking Consistency
The West Indies are the “Jekyll and Hyde” of world cricket. On their day, they are unbeatable. On others, they crumble.
They haven’t reached the knockout stages since 2016—a drought that hurts for a team that invented the modern T20 style. Led by Shai Hope, the Windies are banking on their top order to fire.
West Indies Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Shai Hope |
| Key Batters | Brandon King, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Shimron Hetmyer |
| All-Rounders | Jason Holder, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde (implied power roles/Johnson Charles) |
| Bowlers | Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales |
Analysis:
- The Problem: “Performance Variance.” Their ceiling is high, but their floor is low.
- Key Player: Shimron Hetmyer. In scintillating form, he is the engine room of their middle order.
The Debutants: The Italian Job
Italy is the story of the tournament. They are the only debutants in 2026, having qualified by pulling off a miracle win against Scotland in the European Qualifiers.
Led by the 42-year-old County veteran Wayne Madsen, this isn’t a team of rookies; it’s a team of experienced pros with dual nationalities who know how to play hard cricket.
Italy Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Wayne Madsen |
| The Brothers | Harry Manenti & Ben Manenti (Big Bash League experience) |
| Key All-Rounders | JJ Smuts (Ex-South Africa), Grant Stewart |
| Bowlers | Thomas Draca, Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Jorge Kalugamage |
The Grudge Match:
Mark February 9 on your calendar. Italy vs Scotland.
- Context: Italy beat Scotland to qualify. Scotland only got into the World Cup because Bangladesh withdrew/was replaced.
- Stakes: Scotland wants revenge. Italy wants to prove their win wasn’t a fluke.
The Replacements: Scotland’s Second Chance
Scotland got a lucky break. After failing to qualify directly (thanks to Italy), they received an 11th-hour entry to replace Bangladesh. Now, they are playing with “house money”—no pressure, just a point to prove.
Scotland Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Richie Berrington |
| Key Batter | George Munsey & Brandon McMullen (7 T20I Fifties) |
| Spin King | Mark Watt (Chasing 100 T20I Wickets) |
| Bowlers | Safyaan Sharif, Bradley Wheal, Chris Greaves |
Analysis:
- Motivation: They are desperate to show they belong here, not just as replacements.
- Key Stat: Mark Watt is just 11 wickets away from 100 T20I scalps. Expect him to target the Italians.
The Dark Horse: Nepal’s “Rhino Army”
Nepal brings the noise. Their fans are arguably the most passionate in the world, turning every stadium into a sea of red and blue.
Under the guidance of former Aussie legend Stuart Law, Nepal is no longer satisfied with just “competing.” They want scalps.
Nepal Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Rohit Paudel |
| Star Player | Dipendra Singh Airee (Has a T20I Century) |
| The Wizard | Sandeep Lamichhane (21 Wickets last year) |
| Support | Kushal Bhurtel, Sompal Kami, Karan KC |
Analysis:
- Threat Level: High for spinners. Lamichhane on sub-continent pitches is a world-class threat.
- Ambition: They have upset big teams before. England and West Indies cannot take them lightly.
Group C Prediction: Who Goes Through?
- England (1st): Too much depth, too much power. They should top the group comfortably.
- West Indies (2nd): It will be tight, but their raw power should see them edge out the associates.
- The Spoiler: Italy vs Scotland will decide who finishes 3rd. If Italy wins that mental battle, they could shock the Windies on a turning track.
Verdict:
Group C is not a “Group of Death,” but it is a “Group of Danger.” One bad day for the big teams, and the Italians or Nepalese are ready to pounce.
