Nepal delivered one of the most memorable performances of the T20 World Cup 2026 despite falling narrowly short against England in a thrilling group match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a challenging target of 185 Nepal pushed the former world champions to the final over needing just 10 runs from six balls before England’s Sam Curran held his composure to seal a dramatic win.
England looked in control earlier after strong batting displays from captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell who guided their team to 184 for 7. However Nepal refused to be overawed by the occasion. Captain Rohit Paudel led from the front with an attacking knock while Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee kept the chase alive with fearless stroke play that rattled the English bowling unit. Nepal eventually finished on 180 for 6 falling just four runs short of a historic upset.
The spirited performance sparked widespread admiration across the cricketing fraternity. Former India stars Yuvraj Singh Ravichandran Ashwin and Irfan Pathan praised Nepal’s growth and belief on the big stage. Yuvraj highlighted the team’s courage and fighting spirit saying the global cricket community had taken notice of their rise. Ashwin described Nepal as one of the most promising emerging cricket nations while Pathan noted how close they came to pulling off a famous victory.
South African pace legend Dale Steyn added further excitement by publicly offering his support to Nepal suggesting he would be open to mentoring the team. His message captured the mood surrounding Nepal’s display which many believe signals a new era for associate nations in world cricket.
Nepal will now turn their focus to their next T20 World Cup challenge against the West Indies scheduled for February 15 at the same venue as they continue their quest to make history on the global stage.