Nepal In T20 WCs

With the completion of the recent Nepal Premier League (NPL), the buzz of Nepali cricket has now shifted towards the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Nepal has been placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Italy. All of Nepal’s matches will be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This will be Nepal’s third appearance in the tournament, having previously participated in 2014 and 2024.

Nepal’s inaugural appearance in the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup offered the world its first real glimpse of a rising Himalayan cricketing nation. Nepal finished second in their group, narrowly missing out on qualification to the next stage on net run rate against Bangladesh. In that edition, Nepal defeated Hong Kong by 80 runs and stunned Afghanistan, then still an associate nation, by 9 runs. Although Bangladesh beat Nepal by 8 wickets and progressed on net run rate, Nepal’s spirited campaign left a lasting impression. Many fans believed this would mark the beginning of Nepal’s regular presence on the global stage, but it would take a full decade for the Rhinos to return.

In the 2024, T20 World Cup, held in the USA and the West Indies, Nepal finally made its long-awaited comeback. Their opening match against the Netherlands ended in an 8‑wicket loss, but the real story was unfolding in the stands. The Grand Prairie Stadium was packed with Nepali supporters draped in red and blue, creating an atmosphere so electric that players from both teams said it felt like playing at TU. The second match, against Sri Lanka in Florida, was washed out, yet Nepali fans still filled the venue, dancing, singing, and celebrating their team’s return to the world stage.

The journey then moved to the Caribbean, followed by thousands of Nepali fans. Nepal faced South Africa for the first time in history, chasing a modest target of 116. At one stage, Nepal needed just 31 runs from 38 balls and looked destined for a historic victory. But in classic “cardiac kids” fashion, they fell short by a single run, breaking hearts across Nepal. Still, the performance established Nepal as a genuine emerging force pushing South Africa, which later became tournament runners‑up, to the brink. In their final group match, Nepal restricted Bangladesh to 106. Chasing 107, Nepal seemed poised for victory with only 22 needed from the last two overs. But Mustafizur Rahman delivered a brilliant 19th‑over wicket‑maiden, crushing Nepal’s hopes and ending another nail‑biting contest.

Now, Nepal prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Having qualified undefeated, expectations are higher than ever. With all their matches scheduled in Mumbai, a massive fan turnout is anticipated. After coming agonisingly close against South Africa and Bangladesh in 2024, supporters believe Nepal must secure at least one win against a full member nation this time. Even if beating England proves difficult, fans expect Nepal to challenge Bangladesh, whom they face for the third time in T20 World Cup history, and even the West Indies, especially after Nepal’s recent bilateral series win against them in September.

In the last edition, the global buzz was created by the fans. This year, Nepali supporters hope the team’s performance will take centre stage.