WATCH: Nepal players salute Wankhede crowd with lap of honour after heartbreaking T20 World Cup 2026 loss to England

In a heartbreaking yet historic night at the Wankhede Stadium, England narrowly escaped a monumental upset by defeating Nepal by just four runs in T20 World Cup 2026. Chasing 185, Nepal pushed the defending champions to the absolute limit, falling agonisingly short in a last-ball thriller on February 8, 2026. While England walked away with the points, the spirit shown by the Associate nation left the global cricketing community in awe. The match will be remembered not for the result, but for the incredible resilience of a rising Nepal side.

T20 World Cup 2026: Nepal players under Rohit Paudel salute Wankhede crowd with emotional lap of honour

Despite the crushing weight of a four-run defeat, the Nepal players displayed extraordinary grace and composure in a moment that transcended the game itself. Following the final delivery, led by captain Rohit Paudel, the entire squad took a lap of honour around the Wankhede Stadium to express their gratitude to the fans. The stadium saw an impressive attendance exceeding 17,000, a remarkable figure for a non-India fixture, with a massive, vocal section of Nepal supporters turning the stands into a sea of red and blue.

While the players were understandably hurting deep within after coming so close to a historic victory, they remained dignified, waving to the supporters who had travelled from across the globe to witness their journey. The lap was a tribute to their loyal fans and a thank-you to the Mumbai crowd that had cheered their every boundary, solidifying Nepal’s reputation as the ‘people’s team’ of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Here’s the video:

A fight for the ages! 👏

Team Nepal will take plenty of inspiration from this performance, as will their fans who gave it their all ❤️

Watch them next in #T20WorldCup 👉 #NEPvITA | THU, 12 FEB, 3 PM pic.twitter.com/a3GRcIKLno

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 8, 2026

Also READ: Fans react as England survive massive Nepal scare in dramatic last-over T20 World Cup 2026 win

England survives last-over scare in Wankhede T20 World Cup 2026 thriller against Nepal

After being put in to bat, England posted 184/7, largely thanks to debutant Jacob Bethell’s 55 and Harry Brook’s 53, though Nepal’s bowlers kept the pressure high with Dipendra Singh Airee taking 2/23. In response, Nepal’s top order attacked fearlessly, with Rohit Paudel (39) and Dipendra Airee (44) putting together an 82-run partnership that brought them to the brink of victory.

The required rate remained manageable until Sam Curran and Liam Dawson struck in quick succession to remove the set batters. However, Lokesh Bam reignited the chase with a sensational 39* off 20 balls, bringing the equation down to 10 runs needed off the final over. With the Wankhede crowd erupting, Curran held his nerve, executing perfect yorkers to concede only five runs. Nepal finished on 180/6, losing by a mere four runs in a contest that exposed England’s death-bowling vulnerabilities. The victory keeps England’s campaign alive, but Nepal earned a standing ovation for pushing the world champions to the final ball.

Also READ: Jacob Bethell equals Kevin Pietersen with rare England feat in T20 World Cup 2026 match vs Nepal