Nepal‘s fairy tale run ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Sunday may have ended in heartbreak, but it showed spirit and courage Rohit PaudelHis side at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai won them admiration in the cricketing world. Pushing two-time champions England to the brink, Nepal fell agonizingly behind by just four runs in what turned out to be one of the most compelling encounters of the tournament.
England survived a late scare thanks to Sam Curran
First, the England captain asked to bat Harry Brooke He chose to target and his innings produced a competitive total of 184/7. Jacob Bethell and while Brook scored fluent half-centuries Will Jacks Consigning 39 off 18 balls, the Three Lions posted a total that looked strong on paper.
Nepal, however, refused to be overly impressed. Dipendra Singh Airee Batting anchored the chase with 44, sharing a vital 82-run partnership with Paudel that kept the underdogs firmly in the hunt. The equation tilted sharply in favor of Nepal Lokesh Bam launched a stunning late onslaught and reduced the requirement to just 10 runs in the final over.
Within touching distance of standing crowds and history, Sam Curran got on his nerves. The seasoned all-rounder executed a series of superb yorkers, denying Nepal a much-needed boundary and sealing a narrow escape route for England.
Packed stands applaud Nepal’s valiant effort
Despite the defeat, the Nepali players made sure to acknowledge the sea of supporters at the Wankhede. According to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), 17,008 fans attended the match, most of them cheering on Nepal after traveling all the way from Kathmandu. Their unwavering support made the stadium a home away from home.
Dale Steyn’s message illuminates Nepalese cricket
Minutes after the match, the former South African speedster Dale Steyn He took to social media to praise Nepal’s fearless brand of cricket. Going a step further, the fast bowling legend openly offered his services to the team, a gesture that quickly gained global attention.
“Nepal. I offer you my services if you need them! Up, up and up,” Steyn sent a message that resonated deeply in the Nepalese camp.
Nepal
If you need it, I offer you my services!
Up, up and up!— Dale Stein (@DaleSteyn62) February 8, 2026
Also WATCH: Nepali players salute the Wankhede crowd after defeat to England in T20 World Cup 2026
Nandan Yadav could not speak of Steyn’s praise
Nepalese pacer at the post-match press conference Nandan Yadav They asked about Stein’s remarkable proposal. A visibly emotional Nandan acknowledged the importance of getting such recognition from one of the game’s fastest bowlers. He said it was a “big thing” for Nepalese cricket, adding that it felt surreal to have someone who had dominated world cricket for nearly a decade acknowledging his potential. Nandan also stressed that such decisions rest with the team management, but the respect shown by Steyn is something the players will value.
“So it’s a big thing for us. Someone, some legend, has been in charge of cricket for, say, 10 years and he tweets something like that. But it’s like a canning board, so we can’t approach him. Maybe we can, so I don’t know how to respond to that.” Nandan told reporters.
Also READ: Fans react if England survive Nepal scare with dramatic win at T20 World Cup 2026.
