Mumbai, India—— For much of a warm and breezy Sunday afternoon in Mumbai, at the Wankhede Stadium, closer to Kathmandu than the southern Indian metropolis, thousands of Nepali fans sang, danced and dared to dream as their cricket team took on the mighty England side in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Every corner of the iconic 33,000-capacity venue is filled with a sea of ​​red and blue replica jerseys as fans turn the famous Indian stadium into their second home.

A banner reading “Feel the Thrill” stretched across the stands, perfectly capturing the atmosphere as chants, drums and Nepali tunes echoed throughout the venue.

From children with flags painted on their faces to elderly supporters proudly wearing traditional Dhaka topis (traditional Nepalese hats), fans of all ages come to attend this cricket festival steeped in Nepali culture.

“We almost won”

On the field, the Nepal team players gave one of the most unforgettable performances in recent years. The game ended in a heartbreaking way, and the team’s fierce pursuit failed. painfully short On the last ball.

In dire circumstances, Nepal came out to face two-time champions England, fully aware of the huge gap in experience and pedigree compared to their opponents.

However, they hope their desire, passion and fearless attitude for the game will keep them firm in the competition.

Chasing a challenging target of 185, the Rhinos proved why they are one of the most promising teams in cricket, with Lokesh Bam’s late heroics, coupled with the onslaught of Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee, taking the game to the last ball.

“We almost won but failed to advance due to inexperience of the players,” Subodh Dhakal, a Nepalese fan who traveled from Kathmandu, told Al Jazeera. “Experience comes with time, but the team played well.”

Dhakal, a doctor and an ardent Nepal supporter, planned a short two-day trip to watch the match with his wife after watching the Nepal Premier League. Nepal Premier League is a domestic league and its development is crucial to the progress of the sport in Nepal.

Like Dhakal, Satyam Pokhrel also traveled from Nepal’s capital to Mumbai. Accompanied by a group of friends, Pokhrel revealed that he plans to stay for the remaining three matches in Nepal, all scheduled to be held at the same venue.

“Nepal did have a good chance (to win) but they were unlucky,” he said. “The game was very close; I’m proud of the team. They showed a lot of energy and have the ability to win the rest of the game.”

Sunday’s heroics against England was not the first time Nepal has caused problems for stronger opponents. Five months until the World Cup beat The 2-1 win over West Indies in the three-match series was their first win in a bilateral series against a regular member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while in 2024, they defeated South Africa in consecutive T20 World Cups.

In 2014, Nepal participated in the tournament for the first time and recorded a famous victory over the highly-rated Afghanistan.

“Don’t leave us out”

For many in the stands, being part of the atmosphere requires a journey as memorable as the game itself.

Bhuvan Rawal traveled by bus from Tikapur in remote western Nepal to Mumbai, spending three days on the road.

“I don’t care how much time or money it costs to come here. Watching Nepal’s World Cup match is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me,” the 26-year-old said.

“I came with about 200 to 300 supporters from Nepal. We knew the match schedule from last year and are happy to be here at the Wankhede Stadium…Mumbai is our second home now!”

Rawal, who played cricket in his youth and is now a gymnastics coach, believes lower-ranked teams like Nepal are here not just to make up numbers in the expanded 20-team T20 World Cup.

“We may be a small country but Nepal is very beautiful and plays wonderful cricket. I know there is a difference between full members of the International Cricket Council and associate teams, but don’t count us out.

“No team is too small to challenge the giants,” he said.