Mumbai, February 8
Nepal will face a formidable England side on Sunday in its opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The tournament began on Saturday, with three matches played on the opening day, and in all three, associate nations pushed established Test-playing teams hard. The Netherlands challenged Pakistan, Scotland tested West Indies, and the United States mounted a strong fight against India.
Nepal, too, will be searching for something “special” when it takes on England, one of the world’s strongest teams.
England, after all, has a history of springing surprises of its own, sometimes by losing to teams few expect it to. Nepal’s fast bowler Sompal Kami has even suggested that his side could pull off an upset against England at this World Cup.
“England loses to an unexpected team in almost every World Cup,” Kami said before the tournament. “This time, it could be Nepal.”
Ranked third in the ICC T20I standings, England enter the match as clear favourites, but Nepal will be chasing that one unlikely moment that can redefine a tournament.
This is Nepal’s third appearance at a T20 World Cup. In their previous two outings, they failed to advance beyond the group stage. This time, the team has set its sights on reaching the Super Eight.
To do so, Nepal must win at least two of its four group-stage matches. A victory against England would not only be historic but would also provide a major psychological boost ahead of the remaining fixtures.
Head-to-head
Nepal and England have never met in a T20 international. Sunday’s match will mark their first encounter in international cricket.
England arrive after winning a T20I series against Sri Lanka. Nepal, meanwhile, defeated the MCA President’s XI in a practice match in Mumbai and also recorded warm-up victories over Canada and the United Arab Emirates.
Nepal will be chasing its first T20 World Cup win in 12 years, while England will be looking to assert their dominance early in the tournament.
Team combination
Nepal experimented with several combinations across practice and warm-up matches. In the batting order, Dipendra Singh Airee has been promoted, while Aarif Sheikh has been given greater responsibility.
Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh are expected to open, followed by captain Rohit Paudel at No. 3, vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee at No. 4, and Arif Sheikh at No. 5. Sandeep Jora and Gulshan Jha are likely to follow.
With the Wankhede Stadium traditionally favouring pace bowlers, Nepal may field three seamers, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, and Nandan Yadav, alongside leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. Spinner Sher Malla could also come into contention, potentially at the expense of Jora.
Given England’s strong lineup of left-handed batters, Lalit Rajbanshi may miss out in the opening match.
Players to watch
For Nepal, opener Kushal Bhurtel will be the key figure. His approach in the powerplay could define the trajectory of Nepal’s innings. At Wankhede, where square boundaries are short, Bhurtel’s strength in cross-batted shots could prove decisive.
Nepal will also look to Dipendra Singh Airee for an all-round contribution, while the performance of spinner Sher Malla, if selected, will be closely observed.
For England, openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are crucial. Both are among the most destructive power hitters in world cricket. Captain Harry Brook anchors the middle order, while the bowling attack will rely heavily on the pace of Jofra Archer and the guile of spinner Adil Rashid.
Player’s perspective
Nepal captain Rohit Paudel acknowledged the challenge of facing England but said his team would give its best. He added that Nepal had prepared well with the goal of reaching the Super Eight.
England all-rounder Will Jacks, meanwhile, cautioned against underestimating Nepal, saying the match carried the same importance as any other in the tournament.
