The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a high-octane 15-man squad as they look to reclaim the T20 throne. Led by Jos Buttler, the squad marks a definitive shift toward "Bazball-style" aggression in the shorter format, featuring a devastating batting lineup and the return of some familiar pace icons.
Leadership
○ Captain: Jos Buttler (wk)
○ Head Coach: Brendon McCullum
○ Vice-Captain: Harry Brook
Top-Order Batters
○ Jos Buttler
○ Phil Salt
○ Will Jacks
○ Harry Brook
Middle-Order & Finishers
○ Liam Livingstone
○ Ben Duckett
○ Jamie Smith (wk)
○ Jacob Bethell
All-Rounders
○ Sam Curran
○ Moeen Ali
○ Chris Jordan
Spinners
○ Adil Rashid (Leg-spin)
○ Rehan Ahmed (Leg-spin)
Fast Bowlers
○ Jofra Archer
○ Brydon Carse
○ Gus Atkinson
📅 England Fixtures & Match Schedule
England is placed in Group C and will play their opening matches in India.
Feb 8, 2026: vs Nepal
○ Time: 3:00 PM IST
○ Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Feb 10, 2026: vs West Indies
○ Time: 7:00 PM IST
○ Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Feb 14, 2026: vs Bangladesh
○ Time: 3:00 PM IST
○ Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Feb 19, 2026: vs Italy
○ Time: 11:00 AM IST
○ Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
⚡ Key Tournament Headlines
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The McCullum Era: This is the first T20 World Cup with Brendon McCullum in charge of all formats. His influence is clear in the selection of Jamie Smith and Jacob Bethell, prioritizing players who can maintain a 150+ strike rate regardless of the match situation.
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Jofra is Back: After a carefully managed 2025 season, Jofra Archer has been cleared to lead the pace attack. His partnership with the raw speed of Gus Atkinson is expected to be the fastest bowling duo in the tournament.
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Double Leg-Spin: Recognizing the turning tracks in Kolkata and Mumbai, England has opted for the dual leg-spin threat of veteran Adil Rashid and the young sensation Rehan Ahmed.
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Major Omissions: In a controversial move, veteran opener Jonny Bairstow and pacer Mark Wood have been left out. Chief selector Luke Wright stated the team is looking toward "the next generation of white-ball power."
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