India vs Nepal bilateral? Ex-India batter urges ICC reward for T20 World Cup show
Aakash Chopra has urged for more bilaterals and tournament opportunities for Nepal after their thrilling four-run fight against England in Mumbai. He said rising teams deserve sustained support, not fleeting World Cup attention.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra has thrown his weight behind Nepal’s cricketing rise, urging the ICC to do more than just clap politely every World Cup cycle. After Nepal’s thrilling four-run loss against England in Mumbai, Chopra said it is time the associate side is rewarded with more bilaterals and regular tournaments, not just a moment in the spotlight every two years.
Nepal’s fearless chase, backed by an electric fan takeover at the Wankhede, has become one of the early stories of the T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra made it clear that the cricket world cannot keep treating teams like Nepal as temporary guests at the big party.
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
“I am going to talk about what we are doing with associate or slightly lower-ranked teams. It's token participation. It's a lip-service job,” Chopra said. “This is not an appreciation post, that they do well, and then you will remember them after two years.”
Watch the video here:
Chopra pointed out how quickly the buzz around associate teams fades once the tournament ends.
“They came to the wedding and you forgot them after that. You don't even know where they are for the next two years,” he added. “The lower-ranked teams have done well in every single game, but that won't remain the story, as we hear this story once in two years. We celebrate it, talk about it, and then we completely forget about it," he said.
“It doesn't matter to us at all. We move on. We go to our homes and play our bilaterals and tournaments. No one bothers about them,” Chopra observed. “When I see them crumbling under pressure, being unable to close the moments these are things that happen," he added.
How Nepal gave England a big scare
Nepal, led by Rohit Paudel, came painfully close to scripting one of the great World Cup upsets against England. Chasing a massive 185, they finished on 180/6, just four runs short after dragging the contest deep into the final over.
And what made the night even more special was the atmosphere. Wankhede was a sea of Nepali colours, with fans in blue jerseys and red flags easily outnumbering England supporters. Every dot ball felt like a celebration, every wicket like a festival. For a while, it genuinely looked like Nepal were playing at home.
When Nepal needed 10 runs off the final over with Lokesh Bam at the crease, the fairytale was right there. But England held their nerve, snatching victory at the last second and leaving Nepal with another heartbreak.
Despite the defeat, Paudel said he was immensely proud of his players and insisted Nepal were not at the World Cup just to participate, but to compete hard against every opponent.
How did Nepal land in the T20 World Cup?
Nepal’s rise has not been overnight, it has been a slow, stubborn climb. They first showed up on the T20 World Cup stage back in 2014, disappeared for a decade, returned in 2024, and now they are back again for a third straight edition after cruising through the Asia & EAP Qualifier unbeaten. This is no longer a cameo, it is starting to feel like a genuine cricketing presence.
And even outside World Cups, Nepal have been quietly stacking up proper results. The biggest statement came in 2025, when they stunned two-time champions West Indies with a historic 2–1 T20I series win in Sharjah, a reminder that they can beat full members when given the chance.
At the T20 World Cup 2026, Nepal find themselves in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Italy, another tough pool, another chance to prove they belong in this company.
They have also earned a reputation as “Cardiac Nepal”, the team that somehow drags games right down to the last decisive moment, living on the edge, thriving in chaos, but often falling just short when the finish line appears. And that is exactly where Chopra’s larger point lands.
This cannot just be a feel-good World Cup story that fades once the tournament ends. If cricket genuinely wants to grow, Nepal need regular bilaterals and more competitive fixtures. More exposure means fewer heartbreaking finishes, and “Cardiac Nepal” could soon become simply “Nepal, the team that knows how to win.”
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Former India batter Aakash Chopra has thrown his weight behind Nepal’s cricketing rise, urging the ICC to do more than just clap politely every World Cup cycle. After Nepal’s thrilling four-run loss against England in Mumbai, Chopra said it is time the associate side is rewarded with more bilaterals and regular tournaments, not just a moment in the spotlight every two years.
Nepal’s fearless chase, backed by an electric fan takeover at the Wankhede, has become one of the early stories of the T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra made it clear that the cricket world cannot keep treating teams like Nepal as temporary guests at the big party.
ENG vs NEP, T20 World Cup 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
“I am going to talk about what we are doing with associate or slightly lower-ranked teams. It's token participation. It's a lip-service job,” Chopra said. “This is not an appreciation post, that they do well, and then you will remember them after two years.”
Watch the video here:
Chopra pointed out how quickly the buzz around associate teams fades once the tournament ends.
“They came to the wedding and you forgot them after that. You don't even know where they are for the next two years,” he added. “The lower-ranked teams have done well in every single game, but that won't remain the story, as we hear this story once in two years. We celebrate it, talk about it, and then we completely forget about it," he said.
“It doesn't matter to us at all. We move on. We go to our homes and play our bilaterals and tournaments. No one bothers about them,” Chopra observed. “When I see them crumbling under pressure, being unable to close the moments these are things that happen," he added.
How Nepal gave England a big scare
Nepal, led by Rohit Paudel, came painfully close to scripting one of the great World Cup upsets against England. Chasing a massive 185, they finished on 180/6, just four runs short after dragging the contest deep into the final over.
And what made the night even more special was the atmosphere. Wankhede was a sea of Nepali colours, with fans in blue jerseys and red flags easily outnumbering England supporters. Every dot ball felt like a celebration, every wicket like a festival. For a while, it genuinely looked like Nepal were playing at home.
When Nepal needed 10 runs off the final over with Lokesh Bam at the crease, the fairytale was right there. But England held their nerve, snatching victory at the last second and leaving Nepal with another heartbreak.
Despite the defeat, Paudel said he was immensely proud of his players and insisted Nepal were not at the World Cup just to participate, but to compete hard against every opponent.
How did Nepal land in the T20 World Cup?
Nepal’s rise has not been overnight, it has been a slow, stubborn climb. They first showed up on the T20 World Cup stage back in 2014, disappeared for a decade, returned in 2024, and now they are back again for a third straight edition after cruising through the Asia & EAP Qualifier unbeaten. This is no longer a cameo, it is starting to feel like a genuine cricketing presence.
And even outside World Cups, Nepal have been quietly stacking up proper results. The biggest statement came in 2025, when they stunned two-time champions West Indies with a historic 2–1 T20I series win in Sharjah, a reminder that they can beat full members when given the chance.
At the T20 World Cup 2026, Nepal find themselves in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Italy, another tough pool, another chance to prove they belong in this company.
They have also earned a reputation as “Cardiac Nepal”, the team that somehow drags games right down to the last decisive moment, living on the edge, thriving in chaos, but often falling just short when the finish line appears. And that is exactly where Chopra’s larger point lands.
This cannot just be a feel-good World Cup story that fades once the tournament ends. If cricket genuinely wants to grow, Nepal need regular bilaterals and more competitive fixtures. More exposure means fewer heartbreaking finishes, and “Cardiac Nepal” could soon become simply “Nepal, the team that knows how to win.”
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