There has always been a cricket rivalry between India and Nepal. Nepal’s national cricket team is still growing, while India’s squad is regarded as a global force. Over the years, Nepal has, nonetheless, put on a few noteworthy shows against its formidable neighbor. This is a chronology of the two national cricket teams’ shared history.
Early Years (1990s)
- In 1996, Nepal hosted its first official One-Day International match in Kathmandu versus India. India easily won by seven wickets in this match.
- The two sides reconnected in Kathmandu for an ODI encounter in 1998. India triumphed easily once more, this time by 64 runs. These initial meetings brought to light the disparity in quality between the two parties.
Nepal historic victory (1999)
- Nepal welcomed India to Kathmandu for another One-Day International in 1999. Nepal achieved a historic shock by defeating India by a single wicket, their first-ever triumph against the world’s best cricket team.
- Nepal, chasing 208, lost wickets frequently but remained composed. Rupesh Khatri, the number 10 batsman, struck 49 runs to lead Nepal to a historic victory. The triumph gave Nepali cricketers fresh hope.
Nepal narrow losses in the 2000s
- In the 2000s, both teams participated often in international competitions. Nepal periodically approached the threshold but was unable to clear the barriers.
- In a 2004 Asia Cup match played in Karachi, Nepal was defeated by India by a mere three runs. First-inning batting, India amassed 250/9. In their chase, Nepal was bowled out for 247 and lost by the narrowest of margins.
- Another near-miss occurred in 2006 when Nepal was defeated by India by 16 runs in a Malaysian Asia Cup match. The findings indicated that, instead of demonstrating more vehement resistance, Nepal was strengthening its standards.
A Remarkable Bond in 2014
- 2014 saw Nepal host India at Kirtipur for an ODI encounter. After their allocated 50 overs, both sides finished on 237/9 in an exciting draw.
- In an ODI match, it was the first time Nepal and India had split the spoils. Binod Bhandari, the wicketkeeper, scored a remarkable 68 runs for Nepal. The tie gave Nepal even more confidence.
Increased Level of Competition
- The Cricket World Cup League was launched by the ICC in 2015 to determine qualifying for international events.
- In accordance with this arrangement, Nepal and India have met frequently in the ODI series. Despite their inability to win, Nepal’s performances have been getting better.
- In Dehradun, the teams engaged in a historic day-night One-Day International in 2017. Nepal, batting second, was only thirty runs shy of India’s 263 total.
- Most recently, in a World Cup League 2 match in Lucknow in 2020, Nepal scored 267 while batting first but lost by five wickets against India.
Obtaining ODI Status
- The ICC granted Nepal ODI status in 2018, which marked a significant advancement in the country’s cricket industry.
- This enables Nepal to participate in the bilateral ODI series and develop its squad by playing against consistent international competition.
- In the upcoming years, Nepal’s national team is expected to continue narrowing the gap on strong teams like India with increased exposure. Supporters anticipate a historic maiden ODI victory shortly.
Even if the first outcomes were frequently biased, Nepal has demonstrated its worldwide standing. Nepal cricket has made significant progress through bravery and tenacity in the face of vastly stronger opponents. There will surely be a lot more suspenseful stories coming from the competition with big and neighbor India. Timeline for the national cricket teams of India and Nepal
Contemporary Meetings (2020s)
- Nepal has faced India in a number of official ODI matches since obtaining ODI status:
- 2020 November, Lucknow — India triumphed by five wickets.
- Lucknow, February 2021: India triumphed by five wickets.
- Lucknow, March 2022: India triumphed by six wickets.
- Although India has prevailed in every match this decade, Nepal has put up a strong fight.
- Before losing by a slim margin against India in 2021, Nepal scored its highest-ever ODI total of 256 against the Indian team.
- With scores of 77 and 68 in the past two One-Day Internationals against India, senior batsman Gyanendra Malla has demonstrated strong form.
- Indian hitters have occasionally been plagued by bowlers Sompal Kami and Kamal Singh, who have claimed significant wickets.
Nepal Increasing Notoriety
- With equipment, coaching, and training, BCCI has been actively contributing to the development of Nepali cricket off the field.
- The sport is being adopted by more Nepalis. Nepal’s domestic cricket scene is now flourishing, hosting many events each year.
- The expansion of the game is fueled by notable teams like APF and Kirtipur, who have sizable local fan bases and professional structures.
- Many observers believe Nepal might shock a major cricketing nation in the upcoming ICC world competitions if present improvement continues.
- The distant days of one-sided games versus India are set to go with persistent efforts.
In conclusion, cricket enthusiasts are upbeat about Nepal’s developing potential on the global scene, even if India will continue to be a clear favorite in the majority of forthcoming matches. The future is still bright for Nepal as it strives to consistently close the cricket match deficit with its strong South Asian neighbors, such as India. There’s more to come in this intriguing bilateral cricket rivalry.
