Nepal, making their third appearance in the T20 World Cup, entered with optimism fueled by recent regional successes and a talented young squad led by captain Rohit Paudel. However, the high-stakes global stage exposed vulnerabilities in consistency, particularly in batting under pressure.
Match 5: vs England (February 8, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai) Nepal showcased fighting spirit in their opener, restricting England to 184/7 and chasing aggressively to reach 180/6. They fell agonizingly short by 4 runs, a performance that earned praise for their competitiveness against a former champion but highlighted missed opportunities in the death overs.
Match 17: vs Italy (February 12, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai) A shocking setback saw Nepal bowled out for 123, with debutants Italy chasing it down effortlessly at 124/0 in just 12.4 overs for a 10-wicket rout. The heavy loss drew scrutiny over batting collapses and execution against disciplined bowling.
Match 25: vs West Indies (February 15, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai) Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Nepal stumbled early, slipping to 46/5 before a partial recovery. Dipendra Singh Airee played a resilient knock, but the side could only muster 133/8 in their 20 overs on a pitch favoring batsmen. West Indies chased the modest target with clinical ease, reaching 134/1 in 15.2 overs (28 balls remaining). Captain Shai Hope anchored with an unbeaten 61, supported by Shimron Hetmyer's quickfire contribution. Jason Holder was the star with the ball, claiming 4/27 to dismantle Nepal's innings and earn Player of the Match.
Key Performances and Analysis
While Nepal's bowlers showed glimpses of control—particularly in restricting England—the batting unit consistently failed to build substantial partnerships or accelerate in the middle overs. Coach reflections post-match emphasized the need for greater bravery and composure against varied attacks.
Captain Rohit Paudel reflected candidly: "We failed as a batting unit in building partnerships and posting competitive totals. The bowlers tried hard, but against top teams, we need to step up collectively."
The campaign, though winless, provided valuable exposure for Nepal's emerging players against elite opposition. Fans in Kathmandu and across Nepal, who followed the matches passionately despite the results, expressed disappointment but optimism for future growth.
Broader Context
Group C proved highly competitive, with West Indies topping the standings on six points from three wins. Nepal's elimination underscores the challenges associate nations face in bridging the gap to full members. As the tournament progresses toward the Super Eight, attention shifts to remaining matches, while Nepal's squad returns home to regroup ahead of upcoming bilateral series and qualifiers.
This World Cup experience will undoubtedly fuel Nepal cricket's development, with lessons learned in high-pressure environments set to benefit the team's long-term ambitions on the global stage.