FIFA World Cup 2026: Harry Kane (Image: ANI)

England captain Harry Kane has urged his teammates to be prepared for a stern examination when they take on co-hosts Mexico in a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The knockout encounter, scheduled for July 6 at 5:30 AM IST, pits an unbeaten England side against a Mexican team that has enjoyed a flawless campaign on home soil.Mexico head into the contest in outstanding form, winning all four of their matches to top Group A. They have scored eight goals without conceding once, thriving on quick transitions while making full use of the high-altitude conditions in Mexico City.England, meanwhile, have remained unbeaten and booked their place in the Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory over DR Congo. While the Three Lions have also scored eight goals during the tournament, questions remain over fatigue after a demanding club season.Speaking ahead of the high-stakes encounter, Kane acknowledged the scale of the challenge and insisted England must be ready to adapt if they are to progress.“It is going to be a really tough game for many different reasons. First of all, Mexico are a really good team. Then all these other little details are going to make it even harder, but from our point of view it’s another opportunity to build some momentum. It’s kind of the peak time to do that,” Kane said, as quoted by Goal.com.The England skipper added that knockout football often requires teams to find different ways to win.“So there are no excuses in a game like this. We know it will be tough. We know we might have to grind it out. We might have to find a different way to win. But that’s what the World Cup is about. Everyone’s looking forward to the occasion, the stadium, the atmosphere, and ultimately putting yourself in those games. That is why you train like we do. That’s why you play football—it is to have these epic games,” he added. Kane has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, scoring five goals to lead England’s attack. The striker is also on the verge of history, having netted five goals in FIFA World Cup knockout matches. One more strike would see him equal Gary Lineker’s England record of six World Cup knockout goals.

India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi came under scrutiny for his spell as the Men in Blue lost the second T20I of the five-match series against England. The clash was played at the Emirates Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester on Saturday, July 4.

Chasing 191, England’s Jacob Bethell top-scored with an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls, hitting five fours and as many sixes, as the hosts secured a four-wicket victory with an over to spare. For the Men in Blue, Bishnoi endured a disappointing outing, bowling three back-foot no-balls and conceding 60 runs in his four-over spell. In the process, he leaked 29 runs in the 17th over of the innings, which all but took the game away from the visitors.

As Bishnoi endured a disappointing outing, here we look at the five worst bowling figures by an Indian bowler in a T20I match.

#5 Ravi Bishnoi (0/60)

At No. 5 on the list is Ravi Bishnoi, who registered one of the most expensive bowling spells by an Indian bowler in T20Is. The leg-spinner conceded 31 runs in his first three overs during the match against England in Manchester on July 4. He returned to bowl the 17th over with England needing 49 runs from the last four overs.

Jacob Bethell then took Bishnoi apart, smashing three sixes and a four in an over that cost 29 runs. The leg-spinner eventually finished with figures of 0/60 from his four overs as England sealed a four-wicket win with six balls to spare while chasing 191.

#4 Arshdeep Singh (2/62)

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati hosted the second T20I of the three-match series between India and South Africa on October 2. Put into bat, the hosts posted 237/3, with Suryakumar Yadav top-scoring with 61 off 22 balls.

In response, David Miller smashed a century for the Proteas. The southpaw remained unbeaten on 106 off 47 balls, hitting eight fours and seven sixes, but could not guide his side over the line as they fell 16 runs short, finishing on 221/3. For the hosts, Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets but conceding 62 runs in his four-over spell.

#3 Varun Chakaravarthy (1/64)

India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy endured a disappointing outing when the Men in Blue hosted England in the second semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5. Riding on Sanju Samson’s 89 off 42 balls, India posted 253/7.

In reply, England’s Jacob Bethell starred with 105 off 48 balls, but his efforts went in vain as the visitors fell seven runs short, finishing on 246/7. Meanwhile, Chakaravarthy proved expensive for the Men in Blue, conceding 64 runs while taking the lone wicket in his four-over spell.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal (0/64)

On February 21, South Africa and India faced off in the second T20I of the three-match series at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Asked to bat first, India posted 188/4, with Manish Pandey (79* off 48) and MS Dhoni (52* off 28) scoring fifties.

Chasing 189, skipper JP Duminy remained unbeaten on 64 off 40 balls, while Heinrich Klaasen smashed 69 off 30 as the hosts secured a six-wicket victory with eight balls to spare. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal had a forgettable outing for the visitors, as Duminy and Klaasen took him apart, with the leg-spinner conceding 64 runs in his four-over spell.

#1 Prasidh Krishna (0/68)

India and Australia faced off in the third T20I of the five-match series on November 28, 2023, in Guwahati. Put into bat, the hosts posted 222/3, with Ruturaj Gaikwad starring with an unbeaten 123 off 57 balls, including 13 fours and seven sixes.

In response, Glenn Maxwell stole the show with an unbeaten 104 off 48 balls, smashing eight fours and as many sixes, as Australia clinched a five-wicket victory off the final ball. Meanwhile, seamer Prasidh Krishna had a forgettable outing, returning 0/68 in his four-over spell, which remains the worst bowling figures by an Indian bowler in a T20I.