When the British neighbors meet on foreign soil, pride matters more than rankings. England and Scotland renew their cricket rivalry at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata for the 23rd Match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Harry Brook leads England’s star-studded lineup filled with explosive batters and world-class bowlers. Richie Berrington captains Scotland’s underdogs, who play with nothing to lose and everything to prove.
England may carry the favorites tag, but Scotland loves being counted out before the first ball is bowled. The 63,000-strong Kolkata crowd will witness this Group C showdown where reputations mean little and performances decide everything.
Match Details
The match moves to Kolkata’s famous cricket ground for this important Group C contest that could shape both teams’ paths in the tournament.
Eden Gardens, with its huge 63,000-capacity and passionate Kolkata crowd, creates an amazing atmosphere.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match Number | 23rd Match, Group C |
| Date | Friday, February 14, 2026 |
| Time (Local) | 3:00 PM |
| Time (GMT) | 9:30 AM |
| Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
Eden Gardens, with its huge 63,000-capacity and passionate Kolkata crowd, creates an amazing atmosphere. The ground sits between the High Court End and the Pavilion End, giving players a classic cricket venue for this historic match.
Weather Report
Kolkata’s winter weather will play its part in this afternoon’s match as both teams look to make the most of match-day conditions.
| Parameter | Forecast Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 22-26°C (Pleasant and comfortable) |
| Humidity | 50-60% |
| Rain Chance | 10% (Clear skies) |
| Wind Speed | 8-12 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Mostly clear |
The pleasant Kolkata afternoon with comfortable temperatures will be perfect for cricket. The light breeze will help keep players fresh. Rain chances are very low, so fans should get a full 40-over contest.
Pitch Report
The Eden Gardens pitch has built a name as one of India’s good batting surfaces for limited-overs cricket.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Nature | The surface is flat with good bounce that helps batters. Players can hit shots with confidence. |
| Batting Assistance | Scoring runs becomes easier as the ball comes onto the bat well. The pitch stays good throughout both innings. |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers might get early movement with the new ball. Spinners need to be clever with changes as the pitch offers limited turn. |
| Boundary Size | Square boundaries measure around 65-70 meters. Straight boundaries reach about 75-80 meters. |
| Ideal First Innings Score | Teams batting first aim for 170-180 on this ground. Scores above 175 are considered good. |
| Toss Impact | Batting first allows teams to put pressure on opponents. Dew in the evening can make bowling harder. |
The Eden Gardens pitch supports aggressive cricket with its true bounce and fast outfield.
Both teams will look to score big in powerplay overs and make the most of the batting-friendly conditions.
Squads
Both nations have picked strong 15-player squads mixing experience with exciting young talent for this World Cup campaign.
England Squad
Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
Scotland Squad
Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross (wk), Brad Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Brad Wheal, Zainullah Ihsan
England brings a balanced mix with Harry Brook leading a talented batting group. Scotland brings determination and hard-working players who can surprise bigger teams with smart cricket.
Key Players to Watch
Several match-winners from both sides could decide the result with their individual skills and experience.
Key Batters
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler | England | 3,997 runs in 149 matches at an average of 35.06, SR 148.69 | Explosive opener |
| Phil Salt | England | 1,618 runs in 54 matches at an average of 36.77, SR 166.97 | Aggressive top-order batter |
| Harry Brook | England | 1,138 runs in 57 matches at an average of 30.75, SR 152.54 | Captain and middle-order anchor |
| George Munsey | Scotland | 2,405 runs in 83 matches at an average of 31.64, SR 144.44 | Opening batter with power-hitting |
| Richie Berrington | Scotland | 2,392 runs in 104 matches at an average of 31.06, SR 131.28 | Captain and experienced middle-order batter |
Key Bowlers
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | England | 48 wickets in 39 matches at an economy rate of 8.22 | Express pace bowler |
| Adil Rashid | England | 152 wickets in 139 matches at an economy of 7.45 | Experienced leg-spinner |
| Sam Curran | England | 62 wickets in 69 matches at an economy rate of 8.66 | All-rounder with crucial wickets |
| Mark Watt | Scotland | 91 wickets in 79 matches at an economy rate of 7.00 | Left-arm spinner with good control |
| Brad Wheal | Scotland | 23 wickets in 24 matches at an economy rate of 8.61 | Fast bowler with death-over skills |
These players bring proven records and have delivered in pressure situations throughout their careers.
Their performances will likely decide which team wins.
Head-to-Head Record
England and Scotland share an interesting rivalry, though they have not faced each other many times in T20 cricket.
| Match Format | Total Matches Played | England Won | Scotland Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
England and Scotland have faced each other in 1 match in T20. Out of this 1 game, England have won 0, whereas Scotland have come out victorious on 0 occasion. 1 match ended without a result.
This means both teams are looking for their first win against each other. The lack of previous results makes this encounter even more interesting. Both teams will be eager to get the upper hand in this rivalry.
Live Streaming & Broadcast Details
Cricket fans worldwide can watch this exciting match through different broadcasting partners across various regions and platforms.
| Region/Country | Television | Digital/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar |
| Pakistan | PTV, Myco | Tamasha, ARY Zapp, Tapmad |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event | NOW |
| United States | Willow TV | Willow DTC, CricBuzz DTC, Willow YouTube |
| England | Sky Sports Cricket | NOW |
| Scotland | Sky Sports Cricket | NOW |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV, TV Supreme, PEO TV | ThePapare.com, Dialog Play app |
Indian viewers can enjoy complete coverage on Star Sports Network with expert analysis in multiple languages. JioHotstar provides easy streaming for mobile and digital platforms with multiple camera angles and special features.
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Conclusion: Neighbors clash in Kolkata
England and Scotland face off at Kolkata’s historic Eden Gardens in this Group C match. England brings strong players and championship experience to this important game. Scotland will fight hard to upset their bigger neighbors with smart play and team effort.
The batting-friendly pitch promises an exciting contest with runs and boundaries entertaining the passionate Kolkata crowd. England’s better squad gives them the advantage, but Scotland’s fighting spirit can never be counted out in T20 cricket.
