Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium saw an unforgettable evening on Sunday as Nepal fans created a festival atmosphere despite a narrow loss to England. Their passion, music, and unity transformed the ground into a celebration of Nepali cricket.
Fans turn Wankhede red and blue
From early afternoon, you could see stands filled with red and blue jerseys. Drums played Nepali songs while fans danced without stopping. Flags waved across the stadium, making Wankhede feel closer to Kathmandu than Mumbai.
Families, children, and elderly supporters joined the celebration together. Some painted Nepal flags on their faces, while others proudly wore the traditional Dhaka topi. You could feel the energy in every moment, even when wickets fell.
Nepal’s fight till the end
Nepal almost secured a memorable win while chasing 185. The match went down to the final delivery. Lokesh Bam’s late hitting and attacking knocks from Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee kept England under pressure throughout.
“We were so close,” said Subodh Dhakal, who travelled from Kathmandu for the match. He said you can see the team improving with experience. According to him, Nepal showed courage and confidence on the big stage.
Fans travel for Nepal
Many supporters travelled from Nepal just to watch this match. Satyam Pokhrel arrived with friends and decided to stay in Mumbai for Nepal’s remaining games. He said you should feel proud watching this fearless team compete.
One supporter, Bhuvan Rawal, spent nearly three days travelling by bus from western Nepal. He said money and time do not matter when you watch Nepal play in a World Cup tournament.
Growing belief in Nepal cricket
Nepal have already shown their ability to challenge strong teams. Wins against West Indies and close matches against South Africa highlight their progress. Past World Cup surprises also show how quickly this team is growing.
“We are not here just to participate,” Rawal said. He believes you should never count Nepal out. Nepal lost the match, but at Wankhede Stadium, the team won hearts with determination and fearless cricket.
