Nepal’s cricket team finally broke their T20 World Cup jinx, overpowering Scotland by 7 wickets on Tuesday at Wankhede Stadium. The victory, their first in the tournament since 2014, sparked wild celebrations among players and supporters alike. Skipper Rohit Paudel labeled it a pivotal moment, especially as his second World Cup captaincy stint yielded its debut league win.
Opting to field first, Nepal restricted Scotland to 170/7. In reply, they cruised home with overs to spare, losing just 3 wickets. Paudel singled out Dipendra’s masterful innings as the highlight, underscoring the all-rounder’s impact on the chase.
Speaking to reporters, Paudel shared, “This means the world to me personally and to us as a unit. The match was make-or-break.” He profusely thanked the passionate Nepali diaspora in Mumbai, who filled the stands after witnessing the near-miss against England.
“Fans saw our grit against England and kept faith, booking tickets and cheering till the end,” he noted. “Even though we didn’t execute our full plan, their support never wavered. This win was for them too.”
The England game, lost by a mere 4 runs, proved invaluable. “It drilled home the importance of poise in crunch situations,” Paudel explained. Matches against Italy and West Indies disappointed, but overall, the campaign leaves the captain content, eyeing bigger horizons beyond Super 8 dreams.