T20 World Cup 2026 | We have to play regularly against Test-playing nations, says Nepal captain Rohit Paudel

For Rohit Paudel, the Nepal captain, Tuesday (February 17, 2026) night’s win over Scotland at the Wankhede Stadium was more than just two points. It was validation.

“I will place it on high only because it took 12 years to win a World Cup game. And as a team, in the last World Cup, we didn’t win any game, so I think this win was very important because this was the last league stage game for us, and we wanted to win,” Paudel said after Nepal signed off from the Men’s T20 World Cup on a high.

Nepal chased down a target of 171, riding on Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulshan Jha’s rollicking association of 73 runs off just 36 balls. The captain reserved special praise for the match-winners. “The way Dipendra Singh Airee and Gulshan finished the game and the way Sompal (Kami) bowled in the death over, so collectively all the players played really well today. So, this was one of the important game for us.”

Soon after the victory, Nepal’s contingent did a thank you lap to acknowledge the support it has received from Nepali fans who flocked Wankhede for all its games. Yet, even in celebration, Paudel’s gaze was fixed on the bigger picture — sustained growth for Associate nations.

“We have to play a lot of games against good sides, especially after this World Cup. When we come in the next World Cup, at least in a year we have to play two series against some good Test-playing countries so that we can see where we stand against them,” he said.

“Playing against the best players in the world will show your capabilities, your abilities. We have to have that regular series against them… And having a strong domestic structure is very important for us, so we’ll build on that.”

For Nepal, the win was historic. The ambition, clearly, is ongoing.