As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, excitement is building. Scheduled from February 7 to March 8, it will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Among the 20 teams participating, Nepal is making waves.
Leading a 15-member squad, Rohit Paudel will captain the Nepali team in the upcoming World Cup. Nepal finds itself in Group C, alongside Italy, England, West Indies, and Scotland. All league matches for Nepal are set at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with a thrilling opener against England on February 8, followed by matches against Italy, West Indies, and Scotland.
In T20 International cricket, Nepal’s players have gathered notable experience. Dipendra Singh Airee leads with the most runs for Nepal in T20 Internationals, scoring 1956 runs at an average of 32.06 from 90 matches, which includes a century and ten half-centuries. Following behind are Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh with runs tallying at 1807 and 1639 from 70 and 68 matches respectively.
...When Dipendra Made History
Cricket history boasts the fastest half-century, crafted by no other than Dipendra Singh Airee. He accomplished this feat against Mongolia at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, slashing 50 runs off just 9 balls. To break his record, a batsman would need to hit sixes off every ball in nine consecutive deliveries, equaling but not surpassing Dipendra’s record. The right-handed batsman also boasts hitting six sixes in a single over during a T20I match.
Source: aajtak
In the same match against Mongolia, Nepal posted a massive 314 for 3 wickets, then the highest T20 International score. This was later surpassed by Zimbabwe’s 344/4 against Gambia in October 2024. Also in the Mongolia match, Kushal Malla smashed an impressive 100 off 34 balls, once the fastest T20I century, later broken by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan who achieved it in 27 balls.
Discussing bowlers, spinner Sandeep Lamichhane shines as Nepal’s most successful in T20 Internationals, claiming 129 wickets from 67 matches at an average of 12.05. Meanwhile, Karan KC has gathered 106 wickets in 85 matches, and Sompal Kami with 81 wickets in 86 matches.
Overall, Nepal has competed in 112 T20 Internationals, securing victory in 65 matches, tasting defeat in 41, with three results remaining inconclusive and three matches ending as ties. Noteworthy wins include triumphs over cricketing giants like West Indies, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Nepal's Full Squad for T20 World Cup:
Rohit Paudel (Captain), Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-Captain), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (Wicketkeeper), Sandeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahmed, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Lokesh Bam, and Sher Malla.
Nepal’s Group Match Schedule:
February 8 vs. England, Mumbai; February 12 vs. Italy, Mumbai; February 15 vs. West Indies, Mumbai; February 17 vs. Scotland, Mumbai
