T20 WC: Scotland and Nepal look to finish T20 World Cup on a high

With qualification no longer possible, both Scotland and Nepal may use their final Group C fixture to test squad depth.

Scotland have already been forced into one change, with Safyaan Sharif replaced by Jack Jarvis after a groin injury. Beyond that, rotation remains a possibility.

Nepal, too, could hand opportunities to fringe players as they look ahead to future tournaments. Familiarity with Wankhede conditions and strong fan backing could help them end on a high.

While the match may not alter the points table, it remains significant for players seeking redemption and teams aiming to leave India with renewed purpose.

Scotland entered the tournament unexpectedly and with limited preparation. Yet they have shown resilience in patches.

After a defeat to West Indies, they rebounded impressively against Italy before being brushed aside by neighbours England. Despite elimination, there is encouragement in how they adapted to unfamiliar Indian conditions.

Tom Bruce reflected on the unique atmosphere: “Yeah, look, last game against England, we played in front of 50,000. And they were supporting us. So I think now we can expect probably less crowd, more noise, but to be supporting Nepal. So I think it's best of both worlds for the guys to experience that.”

For Scotland, this is another learning curve on the global stage.

Nepal’s World Cup story could easily have been different. Chasing 184 against England in their opener, they fell agonisingly short by just four runs in one of the tournament’s most spirited efforts.

What followed, however, were two sobering defeats. Batting collapses against Italy and West Indies left their bowlers with little margin for error. Alarmingly, Nepal picked up only one wicket across those matches.

Captain Rohit Paudel remains focused on maintaining belief. “If you keep listening to outside noise, it will be hard for all the players to perform in the next match. So we are keeping it outside and when the team is losing, it is very important to keep everyone very positive and we are trying to do that.”

The final game offers a chance to restore confidence.

If statistics are anything to go by, Scotland’s spinners could dictate the outcome against Nepal in Mumbai. The Wankhede Stadium has offered an average of 2.2 degrees of turn, the highest among venues in this World Cup.

Scotland’s slow bowlers have claimed 11 wickets at 24.63, the best return among teams who have completed all their matches in India. Against a Nepal batting unit that has struggled for consistency, that advantage could prove decisive.

Nepal’s campaign unravelled after their narrow loss to England. Across their next two matches, they managed just one wicket, exposing serious bowling concerns. With Sandeep Lamichhane wicketless since the opening game and Kushal Bhurtel short of form, Nepal face a stern test.

Conditions favour spin. Scotland appear better equipped to exploit it.

With England and West Indies sealing Super Eight qualification from Group C, Scotland and Nepal are left playing for pride at the Wankhede Stadium. The contest may carry no qualification stakes, but for two teams who have endured campaigns filled with near-misses and hard lessons, a win would offer meaningful closure.

Nepal began with promise, falling just four runs short in a thrilling chase of 184 against England. That fight, however, faded in heavy defeats to Italy and West Indies, where batting failures and a lack of bowling penetration proved costly.

Scotland’s campaign has been equally dramatic. A loss to West Indies was followed by a convincing win over Italy before England brought them back down to earth. Yet their spin attack has thrived in Indian conditions, and on a surface offering the most turn in the tournament, they may sense opportunity.

For both sides, this is about finishing strong.