Nepali Cricket: Growth, Players and Achievement

Introduction of cricket 

Cricket is one of the most famous sports all over the world. Cricket is played on the pitch. Cricket is a sport deeply rooted in history, culture, and global support. It is a popular team sport played world wide, especially in countries like Australia, India, England, Pakistan and SoutAfrica. 

Cricket Growth in Nepal 

Nepali Cricket has seen a significant rise in Nepal over the past few decades.Despite being a relatively young cricketing nation,Nepal has gained remarkable recognition on the global stage. Cricket was introduced to Nepal in the early 20th century by Rana ruler who espoused British culture. The game began gaining popularity in the 1990s, particularly after Nepal joined the ICC (International Cricket Council) as an associate member in 1996.

Nepali Cricket rise in international cricket rankings

Nepal's rise in international cricket rankings has been stunning. The country gained ODI status in 2018 after a strong performance against Papua New Guinea in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two. Since then, Nepal has consistently performed well in ICC tournaments, slowly climbing the rankings. Their success in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers further showcased their growth, finishing in the top spots of associate nations. Additionally, Nepal played their T20 World cup for the first time in 2014 at Bangladesh and made a historic win against Afghanistan and In the year 2024 Nepal played their T20 world cup for the second time at America & West Indies which was in the favor of Nepalese but because of that tournament the hype and growth increase at an incredible level. Due to the growing phase of cricket, the Cricket association Nepal (CAN) has implemented a Nepal premier League to produce more cricket players all around Nepal, an opportunity for domestic players to get an experience, and  play against foreign players.

 Popular Cricket Players of Nepal

1. Paras Khadka 

A legendary icon in Nepali cricket. Paras was born on 24 October 1987. He is the former captain of Nepali national cricket team and currently Secretary of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and President of Bagmati Province Cricket Association. He was Captain Nepali cricket team from 2008 to 2019. An All rounder with right handed batsman and a medium fast bowler as well as an off- break bowler. He made his debut against Malaysia in 2004. His leadership as captain brought Nepal to its first ICC World Cup Qualifier in 2014. Khadka's all-round abilities have been significant in many of Nepal's victories. 

2. Gyanendra Malla

Gyanendra Malla is a prominent Nepali cricketer who has represented the Nepal national cricket team as a top-order batsman. Malla was born on 16 September 1990. He is the former captain of Nepali cricket team after the retirement of Paras Khadka and currently he is a coach in Nepal premier League (NPL) for karnali yaks and also looks after the young domestic cricketers. He is a right handed batsman and a part time wicketkeeper. Malla is the seventh Nepalese cricketer to score an international century. He hit 114 off 125 balls against Singapore during 2024 cricket division league three. Malla Played significant roles in Nepal's victories in ICC World Cricket League tournaments and other events. Malla was a trusted batsman for Nepali Cricket who liked to build the innings under pressure. He has played a significant role in several of Nepal's historic victories and was a vital component of the national squad.

3. Sandeep Lamichhane 

The poster boy of Nepali cricket, Sandeep Lamichhane. Sandeep was born on 2 August 2000. He is a former captain of Nepali cricket team.  widely regarded as one of the most successful cricketers from Nepal. Known for his exceptional leg-spin bowling, he has gained international acclaim and represented Nepal in numerous international and domestic tournaments. He is the first Nepali cricketer to play in foreign leagues like Indian premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and others. He is the Nepal first highest ODI wicket taker,  and T20 international wicket taker. He debuted in his T20 against West Indies, where he represented the World XI. Sandeep is also a singer and uploads his songs and music videos on his You Tube. Sandeep's success has been a source of inspiration for young cricketers in Nepal and has brought global attention to Nepalese cricket. He Played a key role in Nepal's victories in ICC tournaments and is known for his wicket-taking abilities.

4. Rohit Kumar Paudel 

Rohit Kumar Paudel is an important Nepali cricket Player and a rising star in the cricketing world. Known for his consistent batting performances, he has played a vital role in Nepal's cricketing journey on the international stage. Rohit is currently captain of Nepali cricket team. He was born on 2 September 2002. He made his List ‘A’  debut in the 2018 ICC cricket division League Two. He is a right handed batsman and a right arm off-spinner. He was inspired to play cricket for Nepal after Nepal played for for the first time ICC T20 world cup 2014. In January 2019, Rohit became the youngest male cricketer to score an international half-century against UAE. The record was broken in 2020 by his team mate Kushal Malla. He is the all time highest run scorer for Nepal in the ODI format and the first Nepalese player to score 1,000 runs in ODI cricket. He was named captain of the Nepal cricket team in November 2022. Under his leadership, Nepal has shown significant improvement, securing key victories in ICC tournaments. He is a key middle-order batsman for Nepal, often tasked with stabilizing innings or accelerating the scoring in the latter stages of matches.

5. Dipendra Singh Airee

Dipendra Singh Airee is one of Nepal's finest all-round cricketers, celebrated for his contributions to both batting and bowling. Dipendra Singh Airee has been a match-winner on multiple occasions. His leadership qualities and performances under pressure have been pivotal for Nepal. He was born on 12 August 2000. In the 19th Asian games in Hangzhou , China Airee scored the fastest T20i fifty off just 9 balls against Mongolia.  In April 2024, he became the only third player in T20Is to hit six consecutive sixes in an over, doing it against Qatar. He debuted his List ‘A’ career against kenya. 

6. Sompal Kami 

Sompal Kami is a well known Nepali cricket Player, recognized for his fast bowling and significant contributions to Nepal's national cricket team. He was born on 2 February 1996. Sompal Kami is a right hand batsman and right arm fast bowler. In 2019 he became the first bowler to take five wickets in an ODI. Sompal is originally from Nepal Gulmi but was raised in India Punjab. He returned to Nepal in 2013 and continued his cricket journey. He married Prativa Ghimire . Sompal made his debut for the Nepal national team in 2016 and has since become one of their leading fast bowlers in both ODIs and T20Is. He has the ability to bowl with pace and can swing the ball, making him effective in various conditions. Sompal is considered one of Nepal's fastest bowlers, and his pace has been an important factor in the success of Nepal's limited-overs cricket.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. Who is the best cricketer in Nepal?

Sandeep Lamichhane is Famous cricketer from Nepal due to his exceptional leg-spin bowling and international success in various leagues like the IPL and BBL.

2. When did Nepali cricket started?

Cricket was introduced to Nepal in the early 20th century by the Rana rulers, who were influenced by British culture.

3. When did Nepal get ODI status?

Nepal achieved One Day International (ODI) status in 2018 

4. Who is the best Nepali cricket Player?

Rohit Paudel 68 match 1753 runs

Aasif Sheikh. 56Matches. 1522Runs

Kushal Bhurtel. 57Matches. 1285Runs