Looking back at the end of Nepal's journey in this World Cup, anyone might think that perhaps if they had defeated Italy that day, Nepal would have had a real chance of making it to the Super Eight. There are no 'ifs' and 'buts' in sports.
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Perhaps Nepal could have played better against Italy? This will always be a question in Nepali cricket. As we discuss the Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the question will always arise as to why Nepal put up such a surrendering display against debuting Italy. The wound of that 10-wicket defeat against Italy in Nepali cricket history will not heal, rather Nepali players will regret their performance in it.
Captain Rohit Poudel has also reiterated, ‘It was a very bad performance that day.’ Now that Nepal’s journey in this World Cup is over, anyone can think that perhaps if Italy had lost that day, Nepal would have had a chance of making the Super Eight. There are no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in sports. After Nepal’s spectacular 7-wicket win over Scotland in their last match, it is possible to think about the possibility of Nepal reaching the next stage.
Another important question is, what kind of ‘legacy’ will Nepal’s performance in this World Cup leave behind? Whenever we discuss the 2014 T20 World Cup, in which Nepal participated, we say that the performance in it inspired the next generation to take up cricket. Will this World Cup performance serve as a similar inspiration to the new generation? The answer is, yes. Perhaps it will. But a lot of work will have to be done.
Cricket is not the only formula for success in world sports, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be. Yes, there is a path to success. That path is hard work. Stuart Law, the Australian coach of the Nepali team, has analyzed it correctly here. According to him, sooner or later we will not be happy without going to long-form cricket. There is talk about it, but it requires both time and investment, in sufficient quantities.
T20 cricket is a form of entertainment. The continuous organization of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) will also benefit from it. However, as long as Nepali domestic cricket is not strengthened further, two or more crickets are played, and getting used to only 20-over cricket will not bring good results. Law says, ‘This is it, the reality.’ It is said that cricket played for many days will make any player strong in cricket.
So, the conclusion to be drawn when analyzing Nepal's performance in this World Cup is, let's make domestic cricket even better. Having said that, it is not that Nepal's performance at the 'iconic' stadium of Indian cricket, Wankhede, was very bad. In fact, this performance was ups and downs. There were some good aspects of the Nepali team. In the end, even after defeating Scotland, at least the 'feel good factor' has been created. Nepal's victory in the World Cup after 12 years was big in itself.
Group 'C', which included Nepal, was difficult in itself, because it included two teams that had already won this World Cup twice. Again, England and West Indies are the teams that have been playing well in this World Cup, and this time they are also potential champions. Among them, the four-run defeat against England was a heartbreaking one for Nepal, a game in which they could not reach victory despite playing very well. In the end, very close to victory, but in the end, a game that made us feel how far away it is.
But this game has caused some debate in world cricket, has the gap between Test and associate countries narrowed? Aren't big Test teams doing injustice by playing less or not playing against emerging countries like Nepal? Shouldn't countries like India, England and Australia come and play in Nepal? Who else has Nepali supporters? Such big debates fell like cards when Nepal was defeated by Italy.
Perhaps Nepal's performance in the game against the West Indies was not up to par. As Sompal Kami, one of the heroes of the victory against Scotland, said, perhaps Nepal failed to play its best in this World Cup? Or let's say, Nepal was capable of playing better, but couldn't? Yes. Dipendra Singh Airi would not have scored two consecutive half-centuries in a competition like the World Cup. This Dipendra is a world-class player, everyone is saying this now.
It's not just Nepal, Australia was also eliminated from the group stage of this World Cup. Australia is the team that was said to win this World Cup. But this team's performance was poor. The Australian media has already said that now the team will return home and there will be a thorough study of where and how it went. Then the future path will be decided. This is Australia's habit of being champions. This is what Nepali cricket should do.
There is a lack of discipline in certain players of the Nepali team, since the 'attitude' of some has been seen, there are also analyses that Nepali players do not lack the ability to learn. This needs improvement, the main thing is to go around and around. The thing that Nepali cricket needs to do soon is to strengthen domestic cricket, that is, to establish a structure like first-class cricket. Let's love this game, support it, help it, and also invest in it. Let's also make a plan. The results will come.
