T20 World Cup 2026: We belong at this level, says Nepal captain Rohit Paudel

Rohit Paudel walked away from Nepal’s narrow defeat to England with disappointment, but also with conviction — a belief that his team belongs at the highest level of T20 cricket and can still push for a Super Eight berth at the Men’s T20 World Cup.

Twenty-four hours after Nepal came within touching distance of stunning the two-time champion at the Wankhede Stadium, Paudel said the performance had reinforced the team’s faith rather than dented it.

“I was very proud of the way we played against England. It was a dream for us to play in the World Cup and play against England for the first time. And the way we played, I thought was incredible,” Paudel said at a dinner organised by TCM, Cricket Association of Nepal’s commercial partner, at the iconic Cricket Club of India. “The result didn’t go our way, but still I think we did well. There are areas where we can improve. And there is still hope that we can qualify for the Super Eight.”

For Paudel, the biggest takeaway from the contest at the Wankhede Stadium was the psychological shift within the group — the realisation that elite fast bowling was not insurmountable.

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“To have that belief that we belong at this level, that’s very important,” he said, reflecting on Nepal’s growing exposure. “When we played in the Asian Cup in 2023 and in the 2024 T20 World Cup, we wanted to see how Shaheen Shah Afridi will shoot the balls, how Mohammed Shami bowls… And when you go out there, when you play against them, then you think that this is not that difficult.”

That sense of belonging was reinforced again against England’s vaunted attack. “After playing those matches, and yesterday’s matches when we saw (Jofra) Archer and everyone, as a team, we thought that we belong at this level,” Paudel said, stressing the value of experience and exposure.

The appreciation from the opposition, including captain Harry Brook, only added to the confidence. “Harry Brook and a few of the other England players came out and they said that you guys played really well. It does feel very nice,” Paudel said.

Looking ahead, the Nepal captain believes the England game could prove pivotal. “Whatever game we played against England, that has given that confidence to us for the remainder of three games,” he said. “If we play the same brand of cricket… I think we can be one of the teams who qualifies for the Super Eight.”

For an associate nation still carving its place on the global stage, belief — Paudel insists — may be Nepal’s biggest win yet.

Published on Feb 10, 2026