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Nepal’s fairytale run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 may have ended in heartbreak on Sunday, but the spirit and courage shown by Rohit Paudel’s side at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai won them admiration from across the cricketing world. Pushing two-time champions England to the brink, Nepal fell agonisingly short by just four runs in what turned out to be one of the most gripping matches of the tournament.
England survive late scare thanks to Sam Curran
Asked to bat first, England skipper Harry Brook opted to set a target and his batters delivered a competitive 184/7. Jacob Bethell and Brook struck fluent half-centuries, while Will Jacks added momentum with a quickfire 39 off 18 balls, giving the Three Lions a total that looked strong on paper.
Nepal, however, refused to be overawed. Dipendra Singh Airee anchored the chase with a fighting 44, sharing a vital 82-run partnership with Paudel that kept the underdogs firmly in the hunt. The equation tilted dramatically in Nepal’s favour when Lokesh Bam launched a stunning late assault, bringing the requirement down to just 10 runs in the final over.
With the crowd on its feet and history within touching distance, Sam Curran held his nerve. The experienced all-rounder executed a series of inch-perfect yorkers, denying Nepal the boundary they desperately needed and sealing a narrow escape for England.
Packed stands applaud Nepal’s brave effort
Despite the defeat, the Nepal players made sure to acknowledge the sea of supporters at Wankhede. As per the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), 17,008 fans attended the match, the majority cheering for Nepal after travelling all the way from Kathmandu. Their unwavering support turned the stadium into a home away from home.
Dale Steyn’s message lights up Nepal cricket
Moments after the match, former South Africa speedster Dale Steyn took to social media to praise Nepal’s fearless brand of cricket. Going a step further, the fast-bowling legend openly offered his services to the team, a gesture that quickly caught global attention.
“Nepal. I offer my services to you if you ever need em! Up, up and UP,” Steyn posted, a message that resonated deeply within the Nepal camp.
Nepal
I offer my services to you if you ever need em!
Up, up and UP!— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62)
Nandan Yadav left speechless by Steyn’s praise
At the post-match press conference, Nepal pacer Nandan Yadav was asked about Steyn’s remarkable offer. Visibly emotional, Nandan admitted the significance of receiving such recognition from one of the game’s greatest fast bowlers. He said it was a ‘huge thing’ for Nepal cricket, adding that someone who dominated world cricket for nearly a decade acknowledging their potential felt surreal. Nandan also stressed that such decisions rest with the team management, but the respect shown by Steyn was something the players would cherish.
“So that’s a big thing for us. Someone, some legend, like he ruled the cricket for 10 years, and he is tweeting something like this. But it’s like the can management team, so we can’t approach him. Maybe we can, so I don’t know how to answer this one,” Nandan told reporters.
Also READ: Fans react as England survive massive Nepal scare in dramatic last-over T20 World Cup 2026 win
