Can Nepal reach Super 8 stage of T20 World Cup 2026?
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West Indies are leading the points table in Group C, which also has Nepal, England, Italy and Scotland.
Nepal, who almost won their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against England, will take on Italy in their second game of the campaign in Mumbai on February 12, Thursday.
Nepal looked favourites against England when they were chasing 185. However, they fell short by just four runs, showcasing some great potential to cause a few upsets in this World Cup.
The Asian nation is placed alongside England, Italy, Scotland and the West Indies in Group C. Given their performance against England, they are almost favourites to win against Italy and Scotland. Their only tough game might be against the two-time T20 World Cup winners, West Indies.
Nepal recently won a T20I series against the West Indies in Sharjah. If the Asian side manages to win the match against the West Indies, they should find themselves in a strong position to qualify for the Super 8s from Group C.
Can Nepal qualify for Super 8 stage of T20 World Cup 2026? Explained
West Indies are currently topping the points table in Group C with four points from two games. They have a healthy net run-rate (NRR) of +1.625. Scotland are placed second, England third, Nepal fourth and Italy fifth.
England’s loss to West Indies in Mumbai has helped Nepal’s cause. England now have two games remaining – first against Scotland (Saturday, February 14, Saturday) and then against Italy (February 16, Monday). They will be playing their remaining matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where Scotland and Italy have played a game each. They have a better understanding of the conditions and can push England at the venue if they play well.
Eden Gardens as a venue is not a lucky one for England in T20 World Cups. They lost to the West Indies in the 2016 T20 World Cup final at the same venue, when Carlos Brathwaite took Ben Stokes to the cleaners to win the game for his side.
Thus for Nepal to make it to the Super 8s, they will first need to win their remaining matches against West Indies, Scotland, & Italy. Then they need to hope that England loses their matches against Scotland and Italy, which gives Nepal a chance to go above them on the points table.
West Indies look favourites to top the group from Group C and make it to the Super 8s. England’s loss and their shaky form in the tournament so far makes them vulnerable in their remaining two games. Thus, Nepal needs to win their remaining games and hope for England to falter in their remaining matches if they are to make it to the Super 8s. They can definitely reach the Super 8s – all they need is some luck in the process.
When is Nepal’s next match in the T20 World Cup 2026?
Nepal’s next match is on February 12 against Italy at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
When is England’s next match in the T20 World Cup 2026?
England’s next match is on February 14 against Scotland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
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Anshuman Roy is a senior cricket journalist with nearly a decade of experience covering the game. His love for cricket began in childhood, playing at school and college level before turning that passion into a profession. Over the years, he has written for several reputed media houses and specialises in news, features, previews, reviews, match reports, and opinion pieces.