Nepal Ends 12-Year T20 World Cup Drought with Historic Win Over Scotland at Wankhede
In what will surely be remembered as one of the most emotional moments in Nepal cricket history, the Nepal men’s team finished their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a memorable victory against Scotland at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While their tournament was otherwise disappointing, including defeats against heavyweights such as England, Italy and West Indies, the Rhinos gave their passionate travelling supporters plenty to cheer about, sealing a seven-wicket win in front of a raucous crowd on Tuesday night.
Nepal’s victory was historic on multiple fronts: it marked their first win in the T20 World Cup since 2014, ending a 12-year wait and ending one of the longest droughts in the tournament’s history. Chasing a target of 171 set by Scotland, the Nepali batters showed both resilience and aggression to reach 171/3 with four balls to spare, a chase led by an electrifying performance from all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee.
Airee’s unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls provided the decisive spark Nepal needed after Scotland had looked in control at various stages of the chase. Earlier, opener Kushal Bhurtel laid a strong foundation with a brisk 43, laced with powerful hits that kept the scoreboard ticking and applied pressure back on the Scottish bowlers. The pair’s efforts set up a thrilling late-innings push that ultimately tilted the contest in Nepal’s favour.
Scotland, who had posted 170/7 after electing to bat first, were led by a spirited performance from Michael Jones, whose fluent 71 off 45 balls anchored the innings. However, Nepal’s bowlers, particularly Sompal Kami, who picked up key wickets, kept the scoring in check and ensured the total remained chaseable.
Despite being officially eliminated from Super 8 contention before the match, Nepal approached the fixture with pride and determination. The crowd, many of whom had travelled a long way to support the underdogs, were treated to a thrilling finish and a significant morale booster after a series of near-misses in earlier group matches.
The celebrations were intense: fans leapt to their feet at every boundary, and Nepalese players acknowledged their supporters jubilantly after the victory. For many in the team and among supporters, the win wasn’t just about breaking a drought — it was a testament to Nepal’s growing competitiveness on the global stage and proof of the passion that cricket ignites in the Himalayan nation’s heart.
While Nepal still has much work to do to consistently challenge the traditional powers of world cricket, this win at the Wankhede Stadium will live long in memory, not only for the historic scoreline but for the sheer joy it brought to the fans who came to see their team compete with heart and flair.
Nepal’s victory was historic on multiple fronts: it marked their first win in the T20 World Cup since 2014, ending a 12-year wait and ending one of the longest droughts in the tournament’s history. Chasing a target of 171 set by Scotland, the Nepali batters showed both resilience and aggression to reach 171/3 with four balls to spare, a chase led by an electrifying performance from all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee.
Airee’s unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls provided the decisive spark Nepal needed after Scotland had looked in control at various stages of the chase. Earlier, opener Kushal Bhurtel laid a strong foundation with a brisk 43, laced with powerful hits that kept the scoreboard ticking and applied pressure back on the Scottish bowlers. The pair’s efforts set up a thrilling late-innings push that ultimately tilted the contest in Nepal’s favour.
Scotland, who had posted 170/7 after electing to bat first, were led by a spirited performance from Michael Jones, whose fluent 71 off 45 balls anchored the innings. However, Nepal’s bowlers, particularly Sompal Kami, who picked up key wickets, kept the scoring in check and ensured the total remained chaseable.
Despite being officially eliminated from Super 8 contention before the match, Nepal approached the fixture with pride and determination. The crowd, many of whom had travelled a long way to support the underdogs, were treated to a thrilling finish and a significant morale booster after a series of near-misses in earlier group matches.
The celebrations were intense: fans leapt to their feet at every boundary, and Nepalese players acknowledged their supporters jubilantly after the victory. For many in the team and among supporters, the win wasn’t just about breaking a drought — it was a testament to Nepal’s growing competitiveness on the global stage and proof of the passion that cricket ignites in the Himalayan nation’s heart.
While Nepal still has much work to do to consistently challenge the traditional powers of world cricket, this win at the Wankhede Stadium will live long in memory, not only for the historic scoreline but for the sheer joy it brought to the fans who came to see their team compete with heart and flair.
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