Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium hosted a tense T20 World Cup 2026 Group C battle where Nepal, batting first, rallied to 133 for 8 against West Indies. The West Indies captain called correctly at the toss and chose to field, putting immediate pressure on Nepal’s fragile batting lineup.
Early disaster struck as Kushal Bhurtel fell for 2, triggering a collapse that saw Nepal slump to 73 for 6. Asif Sheikh (11), Rohit Paudel (5), Arif Sheikh (2), Lokesh Bam (13), and Gulshan Jha (11) all perished cheaply, exposing the middle order’s vulnerabilities.
Enter Deependra Singh Airee, who anchored the innings with a gritty 58-run effort off 47 balls, featuring 3 boundaries and 3 towering sixes. Paired with Sompal Kami’s unbeaten 26 (15 balls, 4×4), they forged a vital 54-run stand for the seventh wicket, rescuing the innings.
Nepal exploded in the death overs, plundering 41 runs in the final three to reach a defendable score. Holder led the bowling attack with a haul of 4/27, supported by Forde (1/10), Joseph (1/38), Hosein (1/30), and Chase (1/10).
Fresh from mixed results—a triumph over England followed by a thrashing by Italy—Nepal eyes an upset to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Loss here spells elimination. West Indies must now chase efficiently on this iconic ground, where momentum can shift in an instant.