Kathmandu, Feb 8: The Nepali cricketers are set to take on mighty England in their first match of the T20 World Cup 2026, at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium at 3:15 PM.
In a first in Nepal’s cricket history, captain Rohit Kumar Paudel is set to lead the national side in two consecutive World Cups. Earlier, he had led the Nepali team in the World Cup played in the USA in 2024.
Cricketers who performed well in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) have been selected for the T20 World Cup squad, which includes a strong group of all-rounders.
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Thanks to Rohit’s on-field leadership, Nepal have at times produced unexpected results against any opponent.
Renowned all- rounder Dipendra Singh Airee has been appointed vice captain. Known for his lightning-quick fielding, Dipendra is equally effective with both bat and ball.
In the bowling department, the spin attack will be led by Sandeep Lamichhane, the team’s leading figure. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi, along with Dipendra Singh Airee, Basir Ahmed, and Sher Malla. In recent times, captain Rohit himself and opening batter Kushal Bhurtel have also emerged as handy spin options when needed.
Nepal’s all-round strength has been reinforced by Dipendra, Gulsan Jha, Aarif Sheikh, and Sompal Kami, all of whom contribute with both bat and ball.
At the top of the order, Kushal Bhurtel’s attacking mindset will be key to providing quick starts. Wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh adds stability. In the middle order, Lokesh Bam is known for solid batting and eye-catching shots. Sandeep Jora and Nandan Yadav further strengthen the batting unit, giving Nepal depth beyond the top six.
The pace bowling attack will be led by Sompal Kami and Karan KC, who bring swing with the new ball, experience, and effectiveness in the death overs. They will be backed by Nandan Yadav and Gulsan Jha, adding variety and bench strength to the pace unit.
Nepal were eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup, finishing winless after four matches.
Nepal squad:
Rohit Paudel (captain), Dipendra Singh Airee (vice-captain), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sandeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahmed, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulsan Kumar Jha, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Sher Malla, Lokesh Bam
