When Nepal secured a ticket to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup through the Asia/East-Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Oman in mid-October last year, one thing was certain: the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup was going to get an extra boost with the inclusion of millions of passionate Nepali cricket fans.

And based on how Nepali fans were present in the country’s maiden T20 World Cup berth in Bangladesh in 2014 and the second participation a decade later in the USA and the Caribbean in 2024, Nepal’s matches at the 2026 main event in India, the closest, accessible and affordable destination for Nepalis, were going to see packed Indian stadiums.

Further, after the schedule of the 2026 T20 World Cup jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka was revealed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on November 25 last year, Nepali fans were elated to see that all their four group-stage fixtures were at a single venue: Wankhede Stadium in India’s cricket capital of Mumbai. Nepal were the only one of the 20 participating teams in the T20 main event to play all their group fixtures at a single venue, a move that made it easy for thousands of travelling Rhinos Army from across the world.

When Marine Drive, a popular coastal region of Mumbai adjacent to Wankhede, turned red and blue before the gates of Wankhede opened for the Nepal vs England fixture, a noticeable number of journalists from media houses across the globe were left awestruck. They were surprised to see firsthand Nepal’s love of cricket and to learn that they were not only travelling from Nepal but also from different parts of America, Europe, and Asia, which further increased their respect for them.

There were many speculations that the thousands of Nepali fans who occupied more than half of the 33,000-capacity Wankhede Stadium would have to leave disheartened with a defeat to England, a two-time T20 World Cup champion, the most successful T20I team of late and the land where the game originated.

Most of the journalists from prestigious media outlets in India and beyond, seated at the Balasaheb Thackeray Media Box at Wankhede Stadium, were clear: Nepal will lose heavily.

A similar speculation could be witnessed among the locals of Mumbai. “What are you going to do against a team like England?” questioned cab drivers, shopkeepers and pedestrians alike.

But it all started turning around after Sher Malla took the first wicket, in the form of Phil Salt, in the second over of the first inning, which was during his debut ball for Nepal. Jos Buttler’s departure made many think: Wow ! Nepal seem to be a good team. And when Nepal restricted England, whose skipper Harry Brook had shared before the tournament that they were looking for 300+ scores in the T20 World Cup, to 184/7.

In turn, the first over of the second inning by Luke Wood was a fierce one. With the ball swinging in the air at a pace Nepali bowlers cannot normally bowl, the opening pair of Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh could only manage two runs in the first six balls.

Again came another speculation when Jofra Archer came for the second over of the inning: Archer is going to bag wickets. But Bhurtel smashed three fours in that over, and then Nepal were never out of the game.

Though the Rhinos could not manage 10 off the last over and lost the match, the international cricket community could not hold their praise for the Nepali team. When Lokesh Bam could not find a boundary in the last ball of Sam Curran when Nepal needed six to win, there were claps at the stadium’s media box. And the claps were not for England’s win, but for the game showcased by Nepal against a team that has been dubbed as one of the favourites to lift the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Further, the claps and praises did not stop coming from around the world.

World reacts

Eight Indian Premier League teams shared motivating posts for the Nepali men’s cricket team after the loss against England.

Chennai Super Kings, which has been posting about Nepal’s team ever since they arrived in Mumbai for the World Cup, posted: Fought till the last ball (emoji of flexed biceps) For every fan in the stands (emoji of claps) Take a bow, Nepal (emoji of salute and yellow heart).

“Keep your heads up, @CricketNep. It was this (emoji of pinched fingers) close. Asia got another giant in the making!” posted Kolkata Knight Riders.

Mumbai Indians, whose home ground is Wankhede, posted, “Take a bow, Nepal (emojis of salute and Nepali flag) Wankhede witnessed a #T20WorldCup classic! Nepal pushed England, but fell short by 4 runs.”

Similarly, Royal Challengers Bengaluru argued that Nepal’s performance was a ‘bold statement’.

“Nepal played fearless cricket, trusted their belief, and announced themselves on the world stage. Their passion for cricket is worth appreciating. Take a bow,” the RCB posted.

Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals also shared supporting posts for Nepali cricket.

Even England Cricket accepted that the match against Nepal was a ‘nail-biter’.

Many legends of the game also could not resist reacting to Nepal’s performance.

Dale Steyn’s reaction is one of the most loved and shared ones.

“Nepal, I offer my services to you if you ever need em! Up, up and UP!,” Steyn posted on X as soon as the match between Nepal and England concluded.

Steyn, South Africa’s legendary pacer, might have said so as he was well aware of Nepal’s regular competitiveness against cricket heavyweights. Mostly, because Nepal had brought even the Proteas to the edge in the 2024 T20 World Cup, as the then-finalist had managed a one-run win in a thrilling match against the Rhinos.

When Nepal’s Nandan Yadav was asked about his reaction to Steyn’s post during the post-match press conference, he said it was a ‘big thing’. “It is something the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) can [do],” said Yadav, when asked if he wanted to accept Steyn’s offer.

Similarly, Indian greats Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan also had big words for Nepal.

“Huge respect to Nepal. Took on one of the best teams in the world, stayed in the fight till the very last ball and showed what belief and heart can do!,” Singh posted on X. “This is how teams grow and this is how champions rise. The cricketing world is watching!”

Pathan, on the other hand, had four posts on X regarding Nepal cricket, three of them were during the game.

From posting, “Just love watching Nepal play their cricket…,” Pathan followed with, “Dipendra Singh Airee has lightning-fast footwork. Plays the back foot beautifully, especially against spin. And when he’s in the field, there’s an instant sense of urgency.”

Pathan then wrote, “Nepal is in the game, but can they handle the pressure of finishing the game? Liam Dawson’s one over and remaining Jofra Archer’s overs will be important for England.”

And after Nepal could not hit the winning runs, Pathan stated, “So the finishing touches were missing, but Nepal are clearly on the right path. Great to see them put England under the pump.”

Meanwhile, the reactions have not stopped. Cricket enthusiasts around the globe are demanding that the ICC manage bilateral series for Nepal against Test nations so that the Rhinos can get used to ‘handling pressure’ against the best in the world.

Peter Della Penna, the man who christened Nepal as the ‘cardiac kids’, posted photos of Paras Khadka and Nepali fans at the Lords in 2018 during a T20I against the Netherlands and wrote, “This picture of former Nepal capt. @paras77 was taken at Lord's in 2018 after a one-off T20I v Netherlands. The stands look empty, but only one side was open to fans. The reality is 5,000 Nepal fans came on a chilly weekday afternoon. Imagine a packed Lord's for Nepal v England.”

And the people are commenting on his post, suggesting names of the bilateral series.

Nonetheless, it was the first match of the 2026 main event for Nepal, and the team is not letting the loss stand in the way of securing a historic spot in the Super 8.

“To hit sixes like Mahendra Singh Dhoni,” Yadav said when asked what lessons Nepal would take from the loss against England.

When the Post asked if Nepal’s shot for Super 8 was still alive, Yadav, with a confident voice, replied, “We have a good chance of qualifying for the Super 8. It was just our first match, and the net run rate was also not affected much.”

The Rhinos now face Italy, the West Indies and Scotland. According to skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel, Nepal will not take any of the matches lightly and will fight for the win and progress to the next stage.