A fearless fight from Nepal nearly topples England at the Wankhede
Nepal came within inches of pulling off one of the greatest shocks in T20 World Cup history, falling just four runs short of toppling two-time champions England in Mumbai. In front of over 17,000 roaring fans—most of them waving Nepalese flags and turning the Wankhede Stadium into a home ground—Rohit Paudel’s side pushed the cricketing elite to the brink.
Chasing 185, Nepal ended on 180/6, powered by a gutsy middle-overs stand and a late onslaught from Lokesh Bam. With 10 needed off the final over and Bam looking unstoppable on 39* off 20 balls, the upset seemed imminent. But England’s Sam Curran kept his nerve, delivering six near-perfect yorkers to seal the win and break Nepalese hearts.
Even in defeat, Nepal announced themselves. “I think the boys gave it all. I am very proud of them. We had the belief when we came to this World Cup. We didn’t come here just to participate. The result didn’t go our way but effort wise we gave 100% in every department,” said skipper Rohit Paudel.
Star power rallies behind Nepal’s performance
The near-upset sent shockwaves across the cricket world. Legends and former champions hailed Nepal’s spirit, talent, and potential, turning their performance into one of the tournament’s defining early moments.
“Nepal, I offer my services to you if you ever need em!” tweeted former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn, in a show of support that stunned even the players.
Nepal
I offer my services to you if you ever need em!
Up, up and UP!— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) February 8, 2026
“So that’s a big thing for us. Someone, some legend, like he ruled the cricket for 10 years, and he is tweeting something like this. But it’s like the CAN (Cricket Association of Nepal) management team, so we can’t approach him. Maybe we can, so I don’t know how to answer this one,” replied a visibly moved Nandan Yadav when asked about Steyn’s offer.
Ravichandran Ashwin also praised the team: “Incredible from Nepal. @NepalCricket They are surely one of the best amongst emerging cricketing nations. Huge potential and upside.”
Incredible from Nepal.@NepalCricket
They are surely one of best amongst emerging cricketing nations.
Huge potential and upside.👏 #icct20worldcup2026
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 8, 2026
Yuvraj Singh echoed the sentiment with an emotional message: “Huge respect to Nepal 🇳🇵 Took on one of the best teams in the world, stayed in the fight till the very last ball and showed what belief and heart can do! 🫡 This is how teams grow and this is how champions rise 👏🏻 The cricketing world is watching!”
Huge respect to Nepal🇳🇵Took on one of the best teams in the world, stayed in the fight till the very last ball and showed what belief and heart can do! 🫡 This is how teams grow and this is how champions rise 👏🏻 The cricketing world is watching!#ENGvsNEP #ICCT20WORLDCUP…
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) February 8, 2026
From England, Michael Vaughan weighed in: “What a fantastic game of Cricket .. The skill shown by the Nepal players was exceptional…A win is a win for England .. ”
What a fantastic game of Cricket .. The skill shown by the Nepal players was exceptional .. A win is a win for England .. 👍👍 #icct20worldcup2026
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 8, 2026
Sanjay Manjrekar added his belief in Nepal’s long-term promise: “After Afghanistan I see Nepal as the team that have it in them to become a force in the future. Inherent fighting spirit & natural flair in batting v pace and bounce.”
After Afghanistan I see Nepal as the team that have it in them to become a force in the future. Inherent fighting spirit & natural flair in batting v pace and bounce. #T20WorldCup2026
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 8, 2026
“Token participation” no longer enough, says Aakash Chopra
The performance also sparked deeper questions about the way cricket treats emerging nations.
“I am going to talk about what we are doing with associate or slightly lower-ranked teams. It’s token participation. It’s a lip-service job,” said former India cricketer Aakash Chopra in a passionate post-match reflection. “This is not an appreciation post, that they do well, and then you will remember them after two years.”
Chopra didn’t hold back on his critique: “They came to the wedding and you forgot them after that. You don’t even know where they are for the next two years,” he said. “We celebrate it, talk about it, and then we completely forget about it.”
“It doesn’t matter to us at all. We move on. We go to our homes and play our bilaterals and tournaments. No one bothers about them,” Chopra noted. “When I see them crumbling under pressure, being unable to close the moments these are things that happen.”
Nepal Cricket, you have our hearts 🇳🇵🫶 #Aakashvani #ENGvsNEP #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/wFWGA0HOTC
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 8, 2026
His call was clear: Nepal—and other such teams—deserve more. Not just World Cup appearances every two years, but regular international exposure, meaningful bilateral series, and sustained opportunities to grow.
The rise of “Cardiac Nepal”
This is no overnight sensation. Nepal’s presence in the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup follows consistent progress over the past few years. After returning to the tournament in 2024, they’ve now qualified for three consecutive editions.
More importantly, they’re picking up wins against full members. In 2025, Nepal stunned the cricket world with a 2–1 T20I series win over the West Indies in Sharjah. Their path to the 2026 World Cup saw them cruise through the Asia & EAP Qualifier unbeaten.
In this edition, they’re placed in Group C with England, West Indies, Scotland, and debutants Italy. And if their opening performance is any indication, they won’t be pushovers.
Their knack for dragging matches into last-over thrillers has earned them the nickname “Cardiac Nepal”—a team that thrives on the edge but now needs the support to convert thrill into triumph.
What’s next for Nepal?
Nepal’s next challenge is against Italy at the same Wankhede venue. While they’ll aim to bounce back with a win, the broader battle is off the field—securing more fixtures, growing their infrastructure, and continuing to punch above their weight.
The players, the fans, and the spirit are all there. What they need now is a system that doesn’t forget them once the World Cup spotlight fades.
As the crowd of 17,008 fans chanted for every boundary and defended every dot ball like a victory, one thing became clear: Nepal isn’t just here to participate. They’re here to play, to fight, and, very soon, to win.
