MUMBAI, Feb 16: Burdened with soaring hopes and national expectations, Nepal’s T20 World Cup campaign in India is on the verge of ending its campaign in disappointment. After three consecutive defeats, the team is preparing to return home with more questions than answers.
Nepal’s latest setback came on Sunday, when they were brushed aside by the West Indies by nine wickets in their third Group ‘C’ match. Having already lost their previous two games, Nepal now face Scotland in their final group fixture — a match that offers little beyond pride.
For a team playing its third World Cup since debuting in 2014, expectations had never been higher. Encouraging performances in the 2024 edition, a morale-boosting series win over the West Indies in September, and the comfort of playing in neighbouring India had fueled fans' belief.
But belief alone does not win matches.
Senior player Sompal Kami, who became the first Nepali cricketer to feature in three World Cups, admitted the team has fallen short.
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“We were excellent against England. After that, we couldn’t maintain our level. On a stage like this, poor teams lose,” he said candidly. “As a team, we weren’t good enough.”
Nepal had pushed two-time champions England to a narrow four-run defeat in their opening match — a performance that earned widespread praise. But that momentum evaporated quickly. An unexpected loss to Italy — a side with little World Cup pedigree — stunned supporters and invited criticism.
Italy’s squad, largely composed of players with heritage links and backgrounds in countries such as South Africa, Australia, and Sri Lanka, lacked the structural backing Nepal enjoys. Yet, they played fearless cricket and seized their opportunity.
Nepal, despite enjoying unparalleled popularity at home, could not do the same.
In recent years, Nepali cricketers have become among the country's most celebrated athletes. They earn more recognition than many medal winners at international events. Politicians, celebrities, and the government openly praise them. Stadiums fill with tens of thousands of supporters — 99 percent of the crowd at Wankhede Stadium during Nepal’s matches were Nepali fans.
Even when defeat looked inevitable, supporters stayed until the final ball.
Yet the results have not matched the adoration.
Head coach Stuart Law’s remark that players were spending time on social media during matches added fuel to the criticism. Sompal acknowledged there was some truth to that concern, admitting that distractions can affect performance.
Across three World Cups, Nepal have now played 10 matches, winning only twice — both victories coming in their debut tournament in 2014. Since then, the team has struggled to translate potential into performance on the biggest stage.
This edition carried ambitions of reaching the Super Eight. Instead, Nepal are fighting merely to salvage pride.
The World Cup is more than a tournament; it is a platform. It is where reputations are built, and franchise opportunities emerge. But on this grand stage, the Nepali cricketers have yet to consistently prove themselves.
Nepal’s final group match against Scotland on Tuesday offers one last opportunity — not to rewrite the campaign, but to restore belief.
For Sompal and his teammates, it is a chance to remind supporters why they dared to dream in the first place.
