T20 World Cup 2026: Nepal cricketer mentions MS Dhoni after narrow loss to England

Nepal may have fallen just short against England, but the narrow loss turned into a moment of belief, learning, and growing confidence for the young side.

After suffering a heartbreaking four-run defeat at the hands of England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Nepal all-rounder Nandan Yadav said the match had given the team invaluable takeaways as they move forward in the tournament.

Speaking during the post-match interaction, Yadav was asked what lessons Nepal would carry from the high-pressure contest. With a smile, he pointed to the importance of finishing games strongly, joking that the team would like to clear the ropes more often “like Mahendra Singh Dhoni.”

Nepal’s comment reflected the dramatic nature of the chase. Pursuing a stiff target of 185, they stayed in the hunt until the very end, needing 10 runs off the final over. However, England’s Sam Curran kept his composure and conceded just five runs, sealing a tense victory for the defending champions.

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Despite the defeat, Nepal’s fearless performance earned widespread admiration across the cricketing world. The praise reached a new high when South African pace legend Dale Steyn publicly applauded the team and even offered to help them improve. Posting on X, Steyn wrote, “Nepal, I offer my services to you if you ever need ’em! Up, up and UP!”

Reacting to the former fast bowler’s message, Yadav said the team felt deeply honoured by the gesture, though they were unsure how to proceed. He acknowledged Steyn’s stature in world cricket and described the tweet as a huge moment for Nepal, adding that such decisions would ultimately rest with the team management.