Mumbai, February 8: Despite a narrow four-run defeat against England at Wankhede Stadium, Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel expressed immense pride in his team’s performance. During the post-match presentation, Paudel praised his players, highlighting their commendable effort against the world champions.
Paudel acknowledged the disappointment of the result but emphasized the way his team challenged a top-tier opponent. “Before stepping onto the field, our only message was to give 110 percent, and the boys delivered,” he stated. He clarified that Nepal’s team did not come to this World Cup merely to participate; they came to compete. “We believed that if we played our best cricket, we could defeat any team, and today we showcased our best brand of cricket,” he added.
Discussing match strategy and death overs, Paudel admitted there is room for improvement in their bowling during the final overs. He noted that England also struggled in the death overs, but Sam Curran’s exceptional yorker in the last over secured the match for them. Reflecting on his partnership with Dipendra Singh Airee, Paudel mentioned, “We were just calculating. We wanted to have wickets in hand for the last five overs and aimed for 10-12 runs per over.” He also revealed that attacking veteran spinner Adil Rashid was not part of a pre-planned strategy, but the conditions on the field prompted them to take risks, which paid off.
Paudel expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from fans in Nepal and Kathmandu. He stated that their passion inspires the team, motivating them to perform for their hopes and beliefs. England’s captain Harry Brook also praised Nepal, noting their extraordinary performance, especially in facing bowlers like Adil Rashid. Looking ahead, Paudel mentioned that their next match is against Italy, which he emphasized should not be taken lightly.
Leave a Comment