Gokul Bista was probably the happiest when the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the Twenty20 World Cup schedule two months ago, as Nepal was scheduled to play all four of its group stage matches at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Bista was born in Mumbai. But when it comes to Nepali cricket, everyone involved in Wankhede is fascinated by him. His father's ancestral home is Achham. Later, they migrated to Kailali. They visit Achham every year for worship and family rituals. For the last two decades, Bista's name has been associated with Nepali cricket. He is the brother of Nepal coach Jagat Tamata. Bista's dream was to have Nepal play at Wankhede one day, and the Twenty20 World Cup has fulfilled that. 

Ever since the schedule came out, he had been wondering when the Nepali team would come and play. His curiosity was high. It was natural for Bista to get emotional when Nepal played its first World Cup match against England at Wankhede. However, he is proud of the way Nepal showed its potential to world cricket. 'Nepal played brilliantly. It was a pain in the ass watching the game. I have been following Nepal's game since 2007, so I had faith in Nepal,' he said enthusiastically. 

More than 17,000 spectators were present at the match between England and Nepal, and most of them were Nepali supporters. 'Nepal is Mumbai's second home, I have never seen so many spectators in a match other than India,' Bista experienced, 'If 2-3 players play in the 'A' Division League here, the Nepalese team will be very strong.' He was impressed by Sher Malla. He argues that Sher has potential because he is a mystery bowler. Ordinary bowlers cannot survive in T-20, they have to bring something new to survive, and he found that in Sher.

He believes that if competitions are held at the junior level, Nepal will come a long way. After learning skills in junior, the game can be developed only by reaching a higher level. His house is adjacent to Wankhede. He was watching the match between India and America at home, as the venue in-charge in the Twenty20 World Cup. 

India was in a difficult position on the first day of the match on Sunday. India had already lost 6 wickets before scoring 80 runs. Looking at the television, he was saying, ‘Everyone has equal chances in cricket.’

Only then did India open its batting. The screams of the audience after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav hit a boundary at Wankhede reached Bista’s apartment. Only then did the television broadcast come on live. After India scored 135 runs, he had already seen America’s chances as low, and it happened without saying anything. Nepal showed a similar performance the next day. 

‘In 2011, the Nepali team came to Mumbai for training on my initiative. Pubudu sir and Jagat were the coaches, at that time, all the Nepali players wanted to go inside Wankhede to watch, Paras Khadka had requested to make arrangements to go inside Wankhede to watch,’ Bista recalled, ‘That year was the year of the ODI World Cup and the final was at Wankhede, so 

It was difficult to arrange that arrangement in terms of security. I had called Mumbai Cricket Association Secretary Ratnakar Shetty and requested him.'

The Nepali team was allowed to enter Wankhede after he said they could not enter the field and had to watch from the stands. The Nepali team had observed Wankhede from the stands. 'At that time, Paras and the Nepali team had a dream, that now Nepal is playing all its matches at Wankhede,' Bista said. 'At that time, Lalchand Rajput and Sunil Gavaskar sir had told me that Nepali players have talent, but they need help now. In any case, after 15 years, the Nepali team has arrived at the historic Wankhede. This is both fate and a dream.'

Bista is even more proud of having made it possible for the Nepali team, which was not allowed to enter the field at that time, to go to Wankhede today. Jagat Tamata also kept nagging Bista that he had to do something for Nepali cricket. Bista had reached Nepal with a local team from Mumbai in 2007. The team played matches in Chitwan, Pokhara and Kathmandu. Jagat was in Pokhara at that time. Kailash Pradhan, the late Sudeep Piya, Devendra Praju, Sudeep Sharma, and Prem Upreti had helped him with the local team from Mumbai. 

After that, Bista's visits to Nepal with a team increased. In some years, he would visit Nepal with a team up to three times. He recalls that the then CAN president Vinay Raj Pandey would make all the preparations for the field so that Nepali players could play competitive games after taking the Mumbai team.