In October 2025, Nepal became the 19th team to qualify for the T20 World Cup 2026. The trip to the neighbouring country will mark the third World Cup outing for the Himalayan nation, after being part of the 2014 and 2024 editions. Interestingly, the presence of a considerable Nepali workforce across India means that tickets for the team's matches are selling out fast. Nepal’s games scheduled at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium have recorded the second-highest sales after India's, reports have said.
Nepal's bowling department is expected to rely heavily on the Sandeep Lamichhane-led unit once again, while their band of capable all-rounders will also be crucial. Skipper Rohit Paudel remains their ace in the batting department as the team looks to have a memorable tournament to erase the bitter memories of their two previous outings.
The presence of Italy and Scotland in the group means Nepal should settle for nothing less than third spot, given their familiarity with the Mumbai surface. On their best day, an upset against England or the West Indies is not too much to ask for, and it could be the ideal start to their campaign if they can produce their best performance against the Three Lions.
Squad
Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam
Fixtures
8 February 2026 — Nepal vs England [Mumbai]
12 February: Nepal vs Italy [Mumbai]
15 February: Nepal vs West Indies [Mumbai]
17 February: Nepal vs Bangladesh [Mumbai]
Probable Starting XI
Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sandeep Lamichhane.
Key players
Rohit Paudel: As mentioned before, Rohit Paudel is the backbone of Nepal's batting line-up. His capability to rotate the strike easily in the middle overs and go swinging in the final overs could help the team navigate tricky fixtures against England and the West Indies. The 23-year-old has managed eight half-centuries in the shortest format for his country so far and averages 27.74.
Sandeep Lamichhane: At 25, the leg-spinner is Nepal’s best bowler, with 129 wickets from 68 outings. The IPL-experienced bowler, who is known for breaking partnerships in the middle overs, is expected to thrive in subcontinental conditions—particularly against Italy and Scotland. Lamichhane's experience across leagues, including those in the Caribbean and the UK, should help him navigate the demands of taking on some of the world's finest hitters of the cricket ball on the ultimate stage.
Dipendra Singh Airee: Often called "The Tiger," Airee is one of the finest all-rounders coming from the Associate nations. He is sharp in the field and has even managed to hit six sixes in an over. The vice-captain is considered Nepal's "X-factor" by many, as he can change the course of the game in an over—with both bat and ball. Such is his all-round prowess that, along with Basir Ahamad, Airee’s off-spin bowling will form a key part of Paudel’s bowling plans, despite him being the first Nepali batter to score 1,000 T20I runs. The 25-year-old is also the first from his country to achieve 50-plus wickets and 1,000 runs in the format, records show. Nepal's chances of progressing in the tournament will depend a lot on whether their Tiger is able to prowl.
Kushal Bhurtel: The opener is known for giving Nepal explosive starts, and this fearless intent is vital in ensuring the Asian side is capable of capitalising on the fielding restrictions. The 29-year-old managed four half-centuries in his first five T20Is and recorded bowling figures of 4/19 against South Africa in the 2024 edition of the tournament, which was otherwise disappointing for him. Seventy-five sixes from 68 T20I outings is not bad, and the right-hander will hope to add as many as he can to that tally at the Wankhede.
Tournament Prediction
On paper, the Scots are more likely to finish third, but Nepal has been training for the tournament for a longer period than the Europeans, who were allowed to replace Bangladesh at the eleventh hour. Given the subcontinental conditions, Nepal is likely to better Italy, but defeating England or the West Indies could be the real challenge. If Nepal manages to advance to the Super 8 stage over either of the two former champions, it could be the story of the tournament.