Nepal aim to make a splash at the T20 World Cup

Entering their third T20 World Cup on a hot streak, Nepal carries significant expectation after winning ten of their last twelve T20Is, all away from home. Notable victories include a historic series win over the West Indies and an unbeaten run through the Asia-EAP regional qualifier. Dubbed the "Cardiac Kids," the team has developed a clinical edge and newfound confidence against higher-ranked opposition.

The Squad

Nepal Squad: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam.

Head coach Stuart Law has largely retained the settled squad from the past year. The selection reflects competitive depth, with Sher Malla earning a call-up based on NPL performances and Lokesh Bam preferred as backup keeper over veteran Binod Bhandari.

The batting lineup is set for the future, with opener Kushal Bhurtel the oldest at 29. The middle-order core—Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Aarif Sheikh—are all in their mid-20s. Spin remains the team's chief strength, led by Sandeep Lamichhane.

Road to the World Cup

Nepal has been a rising force in T20s since the last World Cup. Key build-up results include wins over the Netherlands and Scotland in challenging conditions, and a series victory over the West Indies. Their only loss in the past six months came in the final match of that West Indies series. The team arrives in fine form, with warm-up wins over a Mumbai XI and the UAE.

Recent Form: W-W-W-W-W (last five T20Is)

Nepal's approach focuses on maintaining pressure through aggressive running between the wickets and electric fielding. While they lack a specialist death bowler following Abinash Bohara's absence, they have not conceded a 150+ score in the qualifiers. The batting relies on the settled opening pair of Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh, with Gulshan Jha providing late-order acceleration.

Key Players

• Sandeep Lamichhane: The team's primary spin weapon and partnership-breaker.
• Karan KC: Known for last-gasp heroics with bat and ball.
• Dipendra Singh Airee: An exceptional fielder, particularly at backward point, with a knack for crucial run-outs.

Tournament Outlook

All of Nepal's group matches will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, aiding acclimatization and potentially creating a home-ground atmosphere with strong fan support.

Group Stage Fixtures:

While the opening match against group favorites England is a tough challenge, Nepal will aim to compete deeply for net run rate considerations. The subsequent matches against Italy, West Indies, and Scotland are all seen as winnable. Italy presents an unfamiliar challenge with a new-look squad, while West Indies appear vulnerable based on recent history.

Tournament Ambition

Nepal's last World Cup win was in 2014 against Afghanistan. This time, the minimum goal is to secure points. In an unpredictable group where second place behind England is wide open, the team will be targeting a potential Super 8s berth. Achieving two wins and advancing on net run rate is a plausible objective.