
Nepalfairy tale in 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sunday may have ended in heartbreak, but the spirit and courage they showed Rohit PaudelThe team at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium has won the admiration of the cricketing fraternity. Nepal pushed two-time champions England to the brink but trailed by just four agonizing points in one of the most gripping games of the tournament.
England survived final scare thanks to Sam Curran
England captain asked to bat first Harry Brooke Opting to set a target, his batsmen posted a competitive 184/7. Jacob Bethel Brooke played fluently for half a century; will jacks A rapid-fire 39 from 18 balls added to the momentum and made the Three Lions’ total look strong on paper.
However, Nepal refuses to be intimidated. Deependra Singh Airy A good score of 44 runs laid the foundation of the chase and shared a crucial 82-run partnership with Paudel to keep the underdogs firmly in the chase. When the situation turned sharply in Nepal’s favor Lokesh Bam Launched a stunning late attack to reduce the final round requirement to just 10 points.
With the crowd walking and history at your fingertips, Sam Curran He kept his courage. The experienced all-rounder executed a series of immaculate yorkers, denying Nepal the boundary they desperately needed and sealing a narrow escape for England.
The stands were packed to cheers for Nepal’s brave efforts
Despite the defeat, the Nepali players expressed their gratitude to the numerous supporters at the Wankhede Stadium. According to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), a total of 17,008 fans watched the match, with most of them coming all the way from Kathmandu to cheer for Nepal. Their unwavering support has made this stadium a home away from home.
Dale Steyn’s message lights up Nepal cricket
Shortly after the game, the former South African speedster Dale Stein Praise Nepal’s fearless brand of cricket on social media. Taking it a step further, the fast bowling legend openly offered his services to the team, a move that soon attracted global attention.
“Nepal. I’m at your service if you need it! Up, up, up,” Steyn’s message resonated deeply with the Nepali camp.
Nepal
I’m here to help you if you need it!
Up, up, up!— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) February 8, 2026
Watch also: Nepal players pay tribute to Wankhede crowd after heartbreaking loss to England in T20 World Cup 2026
Nandan Yadav is speechless with Steyn’s praise
At the post-match press conference, Nepal pacers Nandan Yadav Someone asked about Steyn’s extraordinary quote. A visibly emotional Nandan acknowledged the significance of getting recognition from one of the greatest fast bowlers in the game. He said it was a “big thing” for Nepali cricket, adding that it felt surreal for the man who had dominated world cricket for nearly a decade to acknowledge his potential. Nandan also emphasized that such decisions rest with the team management, but the respect shown by Steyn is something the players will cherish.
“So it’s a big thing for us. Someone, some legend, like he dominated cricket for ten years and he tweets something like this. But it’s like canning the management team so we can’t get close to him. Maybe we can, so I don’t know how to answer that question,” Nandan told reporters.





