What Went Wrong With Nepal After Their Heroic Performance Against England?

Nepal started the T20 World Cup with a bright performance against England, giving fans hope that the Rhinos could compete with the world’s best. But after that high, things quickly went wrong. The main problem was inconsistency. After putting up a good fight against England, Nepal struggled to handle pressure in the next matches. Against Italy and the West Indies, early wickets fell quickly, and key batsmen like Kushal Bhurtel and others failed to build partnerships. Without stable partnerships, the team could not set or chase competitive totals.

Batting depth was another issue. While Dipendra Singh Airee scored a half-century against the West Indies, most of the team could not contribute enough runs. The middle and lower order collapsed under pressure, leaving Nepal with low totals that strong teams could easily chase.

Bowling also struggled. Bowlers could not control aggressive hitters. Even with changes like bringing in Sompal Kami, Nepal failed to take early wickets or stop the run flow. Many wickets came from catches rather than consistent bowling, showing a lack of control in the attack.

Mental pressure and expectations made it worse. After the England match, social media exploded with praise, memes, and discussions about Nepal cricket. While it was exciting, it also created pressure for the players. Head coach Stuart Law said this attention was both a reward and a challenge, as young players were not used to such global scrutiny.

Tactical mistakes and inexperience also hurt the team. Decisions on batting first or bowling changes sometimes backfired. Facing experienced teams exposed gaps in Nepal’s strategies and game awareness.

In short, Nepal’s losses were a mix of batting collapses, weak bowling, tactical gaps, and mental pressure. While the England match showed the team’s potential, these weaknesses need to be addressed if Nepal wants to compete consistently at the highest level.