Nepal T20 World Cup Squad 2026

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be hosted in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, with Nepal set to participate in their second major ICC T20 event. After an impressive qualification campaign, Nepal returns to the global stage aiming to showcase disciplined cricket and deliver competitive performances under conditions familiar to their home environment.

With improved youth development, an aggressive batting mindset, and a strengthened bowling unit, Nepal will look to make a strong impact in 2026.

Batters	Bowlers	All-rounders
Aasif Sheikh (wk)	Sandeep Lamichhane	Rohit Paudel (Captain)
Sundeep Jora	Mohammad Aadil Alam	Dipendra Singh Airee
Lokesh Bam	Lalit Rajbanshi	Gulsan Jha
Aarif Sheikh	—	Karan KC
Kushal Bhurtel	—	Kushal Malla
—	—	Sompal Kami
—	—	—
—	—	—

Final 15-member roster to be confirmed by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

Table of Contents

Leadership and Team Management

Captain: Rohit Paudel Vice-Captain: Dipendra Singh Airee Head Coach: Monty Desai (expected)

Rohit Paudel has led Nepal into a more structured, resilient unit, while Dipendra Airee continues to bring consistency in both batting and off-spin. Under Monty Desai, Nepal have demonstrated tactical improvement and increased adaptability against stronger teams.

Nepal’s Group for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Team	Qualification Method
England	Top seven finish in T20 WC 2024
West Indies	Top seven finish in T20 WC 2024
Bangladesh	Top seven finish in T20 WC 2024
Nepal	Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier
Italy	European Qualifying Event

Nepal will face some of the most consistent T20 sides during the group stage, demanding high-level execution across every match.

Nepal’s Group Match Schedule – T20 World Cup 2026

Date	Match	Venue	Local Time
February 8, 2026	Nepal vs England	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	3:00 PM
February 12, 2026	Nepal vs Italy	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	3:00 PM
February 15, 2026	Nepal vs West Indies	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	11:00 AM
February 17, 2026	Nepal vs Bangladesh	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	7:00 PM

This schedule places Nepal in prime-time viewing slots, especially against West Indies and Bangladesh.

Predicted Playing XI (Categorised by Role)

Batters	Bowlers	All-rounders
Kushal Bhurtel	Karan KC	Rohit Paudel
Aasif Sheikh (wk)	Sandeep Lamichhane	Dipendra Singh Airee
Sundeep Jora	Lalit Rajbanshi	Kushal Malla
Aarif Sheikh	Mohammad Aadil Alam	Gulsan Jha
—	—	Sompal Kami

Bench Options: Lokesh Bam, Nandan Yadav, Tashinga Musekiwa, Aarif Sheikh

Strengths and Key Team Analysis

Spin Depth Suited to Asia

Nepal’s strongest component remains spin variation through Sandeep Lamichhane and Lalit Rajbanshi, ideal for slow-turning surfaces.

Multiple All-Round Resources

Airee, Malla, Kami, Jha and Karan KC provide batting and bowling utility across formats.

Middle-Order Stability

Paudel and Airee have matured into dependable anchors capable of rebuilding innings and accelerating late.

Youthful Energy and Growth

Emerging players such as Jha and Bhurtel add aggression and fearless intent.

Fielding Efficiency

Nepal’s improving fitness standards contribute to run-saving opportunities in the deep and inside-circle positions.

Nepal’s Journey to Qualification

Nepal secured qualification through the Asia and East Asia-Pacific pathway by defeating Oman and UAE in decisive matches. This progression reflects the team’s improved match temperament and structured development under international pressure.

Conclusion

Nepal enters the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with renewed strategy, depth in all-round ability and strong leadership. With Rohit Paudel guiding the batting core, Dipendra Airee’s consistency and Sandeep Lamichhane’s spin threat, Nepal have the capability to challenge stronger teams and produce meaningful breakthroughs in Group stages.