"For most of a warm and breezy Sunday afternoon in Mumbai, the Wankhede Stadium felt closer to Kathmandu than India's southern metropolis as thousands of Nepalese fans sang, danced and dared to dream while their cricket team took on the mighty England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. A sea of red and blue replica shirts heaved in every nook and corner of the iconic 33,000-capacity venue, with supporters turning the famed Indian stadium into their adopted home."
"A banner, saying Feel the Thrill stretched across stands and captured the mood perfectly as chants, drums and Nepali tunes echoed throughout the ground. From children arriving with flags painted on their faces to elderly supporters proudly wearing the traditional Dhaka topi a traditional Nepalese hat fans of all ages turned up for what felt like a cricketing festival drenched in Nepali culture."
"On the pitch, Nepal's players delivered one of their most memorable performances in recent years, with the match ending in heartbreak as the team's spirited chase fell agonisingly short on the final ball. With the odds stacked heavily against them, Nepal walked out to face two-time champions England fully aware of the vast gulf in experience and pedigree compared to their opponents."
Thousands of Nepalese fans turned Mumbai's 33,000-capacity Wankhede Stadium into a vibrant, Kathmandu-like carnival, singing, dancing and waving a sea of red and blue replica shirts. A banner reading 'Feel the Thrill' and the sound of chants, drums and Nepali tunes filled the ground. Supporters of all ages, from children with painted flags to elderly men wearing Dhaka topis, created a cricketing festival drenched in Nepali culture. On the field, Nepal produced a memorable performance, chasing 185 and pushing the match to the final ball through innings from Lokesh Bam, Rohit Paudel and Dipendra Singh Airee, before falling agonisingly short.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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