Nepalese fans made sure the Wankhede Stadium briefly forgot it was on the Arabian Sea on a sunny afternoon in Mumbai. From the colors of Nepal flying in the stands to the rhythmic chants booming at the end of Marine Drive, it seemed closer to Kathmandu than Mumbai when a staggering number of supporters turned up for the T20 World Cup match against England on Sunday 8 February.
Long before the toss, the red wave arrived – drums, flags and voices carrying the faith of a cricketing nation still writing its World Cup story. Nepali supporters, many of whom traveled from all over India and Nepal, transformed the iconic venue into a carnival.
ENG vs NEP T20 World Cup Update
Every dot elicited a roar, every English misstep was hailed as a goal. For a team ranked outside the world 15, the crowd offered something priceless: a real home atmosphere against one of the tournament favorites.
FAN SUPPORT: A BIG INCREASE IN NEPALESE CRICKET
The growth of international cricket in Nepal has been accompanied by a significant increase in fan support across formats and venues. For the 2024 FIFA T20 World Cup, thousands of Nepalese fans packed the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas to support their team against the Netherlands, waving flags and creating a charged atmosphere despite early local kick-offs.
Back home, the Nepal Premier League (NPL) has turned out to be a phenomenon. Around 130,000 spectators attended the 32 matches at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with more than 60,000 fans traveling from outside the Kathmandu Valley – a clear reflection of the sport’s growing national footprint.
HOW DID NEPAL DO IN THE T20 WORLD CUP?
Nepal’s journey to the T20 World Cup has been one of constant progress and growing faith. The Rhinos first qualified for the global event in 2014, returned for the 2024 edition after a decade and have now sealed their third consecutive appearance at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with an unbeaten run in the Asia & EAP qualifiers.
Nepal gained valuable experience on the biggest stage in their previous World Cup appearances, although they failed to progress beyond the group stage. However, apart from World Cups, Nepal has achieved notable results in T20Is, including a historic 2-1 series win over two-time champions West Indies in Sharjah in 2025 – a significant triumph against a full ICC member.
In the 2026 FIFA T20 World Cup, Nepal will be drawn in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Italy where they continue to test themselves against established cricket powers.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
February 8, 2026