Nepal seek first win in 12 years against Italy

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s national cricket team take on Italy in their second match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 today, with both sides desperate to register their first win of the tournament.

The Group ‘C’ clash will be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, starting at 3:15 PM Nepali time.

Both teams enter the contest seeking redemption after defeats in their opening matches.

Nepal were beaten by Test nation England, while Italy fell short against fellow Associate side Scotland.

With crucial points at stake, today’s encounter offers both sides an opportunity to open their account and revive their campaign.

This will mark the first T20 International meeting between Nepal and Italy.

The two sides last faced each other nearly 13 years ago in the ICC Division 3 tournament in 2013 — a 50-over format competition.

While the format and team compositions have evolved significantly since then, an intense and competitive showdown is expected.

For Nepal, the match carries significance beyond just two points. It presents a golden chance to end a long-standing World Cup drought.

The Rhinos have not secured a victory on the T20 World Cup stage since defeating Afghanistan in the 2014 edition in Bangladesh.

A win against Italy today would finally end a 12-year wait and inject fresh momentum into Nepal’s campaign.

Group ‘C’ Scenario

In Group ‘C’, hosts West Indies currently sit comfortably at the top with four points from two wins.

England and Scotland have collected two points each from two matches.

With the group stage heating up, Nepal face a must-win situation to keep their hopes of advancing to the next round alive.