During Italy’s history opening encounter of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Scotland at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the focus was on the two brothers featuring in the same playing XI of the 20-over World Cup game for the very first time, Ben Manenti and Harry Manenti, as they found themselves in the middle during their 208-run chase.

Ben and Harry Manenti's brother’s father, John Manenti, is a former rugby union player and now coaches the side, who won the 2014 premiership as coach of the Easterwood Rugby Club and played 150 games at prop and hooker with the Western Suburbs and Sydney University Football Club in the past. Four years later, he became the coach of Australia’s women’s national rugby sevens team.

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Two years ago, the Australia-born cricketer, Ben Manenti, was called up by his country, but not his native home. It was Italy who was interested in the player’s skills with both bat and ball. Harry plays for the Redbacks’ second XI and in Adelaide’s A-grade club competition.

Know Italy’s brothers Ben and Harry Manenti from T20 World Cup 2026

The Manenti brothers were part of the side that went down to Ireland by just seven runs during the T20 World Cup qualifiers last year in Europe, narrowly missing out on the qualification for the 2024 event in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). The brothers plan to return to the side late in 2025 when qualifiers would begin for the 2026 competition.

“Probably what we need in Italy is that support from bigger bodies to get us to move up the ranks. At the moment, we're going tournament by tournament, and hopefully, in a year or two, we're going again and trying to beat Ireland or Scotland — or whoever it may be — to try and be in that next World Cup.” Harry expressed in an interview.

Both Harry and Ben posted a fine 50+ run partnership for Italy against Scotland that kept them in the chase. Harry batted for a strike rate of more than 155, which saw them get to 100/3 in 11 overs.