T20 World Cup 2026: 3 England players to watch for in ENG vs SL

England will take on Sri Lanka in Match No. 42 of the T20 World Cup 2026 in the Super Eight Group B clash on February 22 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. England finished second in the group stage, losing only to the West Indies while registering wins against Nepal, Scotland and Italy.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka also secured a second-place finish in their group. They suffered a defeat against Zimbabwe but bounced back strongly with victories over Australia, Oman and Ireland to qualify for the Super Eight.

Here are three England players to watch out for in Match No.42 of the T20 World Cup 2026:

Jacob Bethell

Left-handed batter Jacob Bethell is one of the key players to watch in the clash against Sri Lanka. He began his World Cup campaign with a brilliant knock of 55 runs against Nepal and has maintained consistency in the following matches with quickfire knocks. He scored 33 against the West Indies, 32 versus Scotland and 23 against Italy, proving his reliability in the middle order.

Bethell has been one of England’s most consistent performers in the tournament so far, and his role will once again be crucial in the Super Eight. With 560 runs in 27 T20I matches, he has already shown his ability at the international level. As the tournament now moves to Sri Lanka, his capability against spin bowling will be vital. Bethell is comfortable playing spin and rotating the strike, and his ability to stay at the crease and anchor the innings could make a significant difference in this important encounter.

Sam Curran

England all-rounder Sam Curran is another player who could have a major impact in this clash. Over the past couple of years, Curran has been in impressive form across franchise leagues, winning multiple titles and enhancing his reputation as a dependable all-rounder. His consistent performances earned him a recall to the national side, and he has delivered with both bat and ball in this World Cup.

In the tournament, Curran has produced crucial contributions. He bowled a tight spell of 1/27 against Nepal, successfully defending 10 runs in the final over under pressure. Against the West Indies, he scored an unbeaten 43, while he delivered a solid all-round display against Scotland. In the final group-stage match against Italy, he returned with figures of 3/22, which proved to be one of the decisive factors in England’s victory. On Sri Lankan pitches that offer some movement and assistance to bowlers, Curran’s swing and clever variations, especially his slower balls, could be extremely effective on the larger grounds.

Adil Rashid

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid is another crucial player for England in this contest. Although he was not at his best on Indian pitches earlier, where batters found it easier to score, the conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to suit his style of bowling. His leg-spin and googlies could pose serious challenges for Sri Lanka’s middle order.

Rashid endured a tough outing against Nepal but bounced back strongly against the West Indies with figures of 2/16. He followed that up with 3/36 against Scotland and picked up one wicket against Italy, though he conceded heavily in that match. With Sri Lankan surfaces traditionally assisting spinners, Rashid’s spell in the middle overs could prove to be match-defining in this crucial Super Eight encounter.

England squad for T20 World Cup 2026:

Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood