T20 World Cup 2026: Where Nepal Fell Short After Aiming for Super 8

Nepal’s aspirations for the T20 World Cup 2026 came to an early end after losses in its opening three matches, formally eliminating the team from the group stage. The Nepali squad traveled to Mumbai with a goal to play strong cricket and reach the Super 8 stage.

Nepal was placed in Group C, which saw West Indies and England, both two-time T20 World Cup winners, alongside associate teams Italy and Scotland. Originally, Bangladesh was to be part of the group, but Scotland replaced them, boosting Nepal’s hopes. The team aimed to stun at least one Test nation and defeat the associate sides to qualify for the Super 8.

However, Nepal lost all three matches. The opening match against England saw Nepal chasing a target of 185, coming just 4 runs short and earning praise globally for their competitiveness. Following that, Nepal suffered a 10-wicket defeat against Italy, marking Italy’s first T20 World Cup win and leaving Nepali fans disappointed. A subsequent loss to West Indies further confirmed Nepal’s group-stage exit.

Nepal’s batting unit failed to capitalize on starts, with partnerships lacking consistency. While vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee scored a half-century against West Indies—Nepal’s first in 12 years in a T20 World Cup—other batsmen could not contribute meaningfully. The powerplay scores were particularly low; Nepal managed only 22/3 runs in the West Indies match.

Bowling was equally inconsistent, and rotation of bowlers did not meet team requirements. Debutant Sher Malla impressed individually by taking a wicket with his first ball but did not get enough opportunities afterward.

Head coach Stuart Law suggested that social media distractions may have affected players’ focus, stating that the attention from the England match likely impacted performance in subsequent games. He emphasized that players need to prioritize cricket over off-field distractions, including sponsorships and social media engagement.

Captain Rohit Paudel acknowledged the team’s failures in batting, highlighting the inability to build significant partnerships and convert small starts into big scores. He stressed the need to improve batting depth and consistency.

Despite the setbacks, Nepal seeks to finish its campaign with pride in the final group-stage match against Scotland. Analysts and coaches have pointed to team structure, mental resilience, and management strategies as areas needing improvement for future tournaments.

The early exit has sparked discussions on the future of Nepali cricket, including coaching strategies, player development, and infrastructure, signaling that reforms may be necessary to compete effectively on the global stage.