<p>England begins their quest for an unprecedented third <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup">T20 World Cup</a> title against Nepal in Mumbai. Here's what to expect from this Group C opener.</p> <p>England starts this T20 World Cup with one clear goal: becoming the first nation to win it three times. While it's too early to say whether they really do stand a chance to make that happen, what we do know is that their journey begins against tournament debutants Nepal in what promises to be a lopsided Group C opener at the Wankhede Stadium.</p> <ul> <li>Competition: ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Group C</li> <li>Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India</li> <li>Date: Sunday, February 8, 2026</li> <li>Start Time: 8:30 PM AEDT (Sunday)</li> </ul> <h2>England vs Nepal Form and Head to Head</h2> <p>This marks the first-ever T20I meeting between these two nations, so we have no historical data to draw upon. And yet, this means we can use this 'lack of historical data' as an insight to predict what's going to happen in Mumbai this Saturday.</p> <p>England, ranked third in the ICC T20I standings, arrive as two-time champions and overwhelming favourites.</p> <p>Their road to the World Cup included a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka during late January and early February. The 2022 World Cup winners join the competition with a deep squad featuring proven match-winners across all departments.</p> <p>Nepal are not exactly in the same position. They secured qualification by claiming the Asia-EAP Qualifier 2025 title in October, are ranked 16th in ICC T20I rankings, and have achieved a historic bilateral series victory over the West Indies in 2025, winning 2-1 after sealing the series with back-to-back wins.</p> <p>Their strong T20I pedigree includes notable performances against quality opposition, though the challenge England presents is on another level entirely.</p> <h2>Brook Takes the Reins as Archer Features</h2> <p>Harry Brook captains England at a World Cup for the first time following Jos Buttler's leadership handover.</p> <p>The batting lineup features proven performers including Buttler, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks and Sam Curran. Jofra Archer, who featured in the first two T20Is against Sri Lanka, adds express pace to an already formidable bowling attack.</p> <p>Nepal will have to rely heavily on captain Rohit Paudel and vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee for runs.</p> <p>Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane is definitely their trump card, as he brings <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/indian-premier-league">IPL</a> and Big Bash experience to what otherwise is a fairly inexperienced bowling unit.</p> <p>All-rounders Gulshan Jha and Sompal Kami surely help to bring depth to the team, but the gap in quality between the two squads is significant and it is there for everyone to see.</p> <h2>England vs Nepal Betting Markets</h2> <p>We would like to say that this is going to be a tense match where everything is possible, but we do not really think this is how things are going to play out.</p> <p>The gulf in class makes this a difficult match to find value in the outright market, with England heavy favourites. As usual, for the full range of markets on this Group C opener, check out our dedicated <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/icc-mens-cricket-world-cup">Cricket World Cup betting odds</a> page here at Sportsbet.</p> <p>When it comes to <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup/england-v-nepal-10073728">betting on matches like England vs Nepal</a>, player props may offer more interest and value - provided you are already familiar with <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/cricket">cricket betting</a> markets and how <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/cricket/news/cricket-scoring-explained">cricket scoring</a> works.</p> <p>Phil Salt, with over 1,500 T20I runs at an average approaching 39, seems to be a strong candidate for top England batter honours. On Nepal's side, we'd keep an eye on Lamichhane's proven ability against quality opposition - something that makes his wickets market worth monitoring.</p> <p>Wankhede's batting-friendly surface, with an average first innings score of 178 and scoring rate of 9.34 per over, points towards runs. The short boundaries of 65-70 metres favour aggressive strokeplay, while the evening dew factor typically assists teams chasing.</p> <h2>England vs Nepal Prediction: Our Pick</h2> <p>England should have far too much firepower for Nepal in this tournament opener. So - yes, we predict England to win this one.</p> <p>The class gap is substantial and no one can really ignore it. England bring two World Cup triumphs, a squad packed with franchise cricket experience, and a captain who brings aggressive intent and match-winning ability.</p> <p>Nepal's historic win over the West Indies showed that kind of progress cricket fans love to see in a relatively young team, but the Three Lions represent a different proposition entirely.</p> <p>To make things even more complicated for Nepal, Wankhede's conditions suit England's power-hitting approach. Buttler, Duckett and Jacks thrive on flat pitches with short boundaries, while Archer can exploit any early movement.</p> <p>Sure, we wouldn't be surprised to see Lamichhane claiming a scalp or two, but Nepal's supporting bowlers lack the firepower to contain England's deep batting lineup.</p> <p>The only real question is the margin. England have won 10 of their last 11 T20Is and possess the experience to handle tournament pressure. Nepal will compete hard, but the gulf in resources and quality should tell.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/cricket/news/biggest-ipl-contracts">The eye-watering sums behind cricket's biggest IPL contracts</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/cricket/news/top-ten-richest-cricketers-in-the-world">From bat to bank: the ten richest cricketers on the planet</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/cricket/news/odi-cricket-explained-rules-format-and-how-one-day-internationals-work">ODI cricket explained: everything you need to know about one-day internationals</a></li> </ul>