Nepal Fans Turn Wankhede Red and Blue despite Last-Ball Heartbreak against England.
Mumbai, India — For much of a warm, breezy Sunday afternoon, Wankhede Stadium felt closer to Kathmandu than India’s financial capital as thousands of Nepalese supporters sang, danced and dared to dream while their team faced England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
A sea of red and blue replica jerseys filled every corner of the 33,000-capacity venue, transforming the iconic Mumbai stadium into a home away from home for Nepal. A banner reading “Feel the Thrill” stretched across the stands, perfectly capturing the carnival atmosphere created by chants, drums and traditional Nepali tunes.
From children with faces painted in national colours to elderly fans proudly wearing the traditional Dhaka topi, supporters of all ages turned the match into a vibrant celebration of Nepali culture.
On the field, Nepal produced one of their most memorable performances in recent years, only to suffer heartbreak as a spirited chase fell agonisingly short on the final ball. Facing two-time champions England, the Rhinos were well aware of the gap in experience and pedigree, but relied on hunger, intensity and a fearless approach to stay in the contest.
Chasing a challenging target of 185, Nepal pushed the match to the wire, with Lokesh Bam’s late surge and aggressive knocks from Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee taking the game down to the last delivery.
“We almost won but couldn’t go through because the players lack experience,” Nepal fan Subodh Dhakal, who travelled from Kathmandu, told Al Jazeera. “Experience will come with time, but the team played well.” Dhakal, a doctor, made a quick two-day trip with his wife after closely following the Nepal Premier League, a domestic competition central to the country’s cricketing rise.
Like Dhakal, Satyam Pokhrel also travelled from Kathmandu and plans to stay in Mumbai for Nepal’s remaining three matches at Wankhede. “Nepal had a really good chance, but were unlucky,” he said. “The match was very close. I’m proud of the team and believe they can win the upcoming games.”
Nepal’s showing against England was not an isolated effort. Five months before the World Cup, they defeated the West Indies 2–1 in a three-match series — their first bilateral series win against a full ICC member — and in 2024 they came within a run of upsetting South Africa at the T20 World Cup.
For many fans, the journey to the stadium was as memorable as the match itself. Bhuvan Rawal travelled from Tikapur in far-western Nepal, spending three days on the road to reach Mumbai by bus.
“I wasn’t bothered about the time or money. Watching Nepal at a World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said the 26-year-old, who arrived with an estimated 200 to 300 supporters from Nepal. “We knew the schedule since last year and were excited to be here… Mumbai feels like our second home now.”
Rawal, a former cricketer who now works as a gym trainer, believes associate teams like Nepal are not merely participants at the expanded 20-team T20 World Cup.
“We may be a small country, but Nepal is beautiful and can play wonderful cricket,” he said. “There’s a difference between full ICC members and associate teams, but don’t count us out.”
