T20 WC: Nepal chase long-awaited World Cup win vs debutants Italy

Italy, meanwhile, enter the contest hoping to recover from a heavy 73-run defeat to Scotland in their tournament opener.

The setback was compounded by captain Wayne Madsen’s shoulder injury, which is likely to see Harry Manenti step in as leader.

Italy’s bowling attack struggled despite using seven different options, and their batting faltered badly while chasing a massive total, with six players dismissed in single digits and three falling for ducks.

Ben Manenti’s half-century and Harry’s late hitting provided rare positives, but the side will need a collective improvement with bat and ball if they are to challenge a confident Nepal unit determined to finally break its winless streak.

While Nepal’s performances have earned admiration, the team remains aware of areas that require improvement.

Against England, they struggled to find enough boundaries during the middle overs of a demanding chase, allowing the required rate to creep up. Running between the wickets also emerged as a concern, with a few missed opportunities proving costly.

With the ball, Nepal maintained discipline for much of the innings but leaked crucial runs at the death, an issue they will be eager to address. Fine-tuning these aspects could be the difference between another brave defeat and a historic win.

The thrilling clash against England showcased Nepal’s remarkable resilience and composure under pressure.

Despite a decade-long gap between T20 World Cup appearances, the ‘Rhinos’ matched a two-time world champion stride for stride and refused to be overwhelmed by the big stage.

A lively crowd of 17,008 fans turned Wankhede into a sea of noise, backing Nepal with an intensity usually reserved for the home team.

Players like Kushal Bhurtel set the tone with aggressive starts, while Dipendra Singh Airee, skipper Rohit Paudel and Aarif Sheikh added solidity and firepower to the middle order, proving Nepal’s batting unit is capable of challenging elite attacks.

Nepal’s journey in recent tournaments has been defined by narrow defeats that could easily have gone the other way.

In 2024, they came within one run of stunning South Africa and later fell short by just 21 runs against Bangladesh, highlighting how competitive they have become against Test-playing nations.

The most recent example came at the Wankhede Stadium, where Nepal nearly chased down a daunting total against England, losing by just four runs. That performance not only drew widespread praise but also created a buzz around Nepalese cricket, with fans and pundits acknowledging the team’s steady rise.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the ICC T20 World Cup match between Nepal and debutants Italy in Mumbai.

Fighting hard but still searching for that elusive win, Nepal will hope to finally end their barren run in the T20 World Cup when they meet tournament debutants Italy in a crucial Group C clash today.

The Himalayan nation, which first appeared in the event 12 years ago, enjoyed memorable victories over Hong Kong and Afghanistan in the 2014 edition but has since endured a frustrating wait for success on the global stage.

Despite the lack of wins, Nepal’s recent performances have shown clear growth, with the team consistently pushing stronger opponents and earning respect for their fearless brand of cricket.