Nepal Shocks West Indies in Stunning T20I Upset

On September 29, 2025, Nepal stunned the cricketing world by defeating West Indies in their first-ever T20I series against a full-member nation. The match, played at the Sharjah Cricket Ground, saw Nepal post a modest total of 148 runs, which they achieved through a determined team effort.

After losing two early wickets, Nepal's Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla steadied the innings, stitching together a crucial 58-run partnership. Captain Paudel top-scored with 38 runs, while Malla contributed 30. Gulshan Jha's 22 runs down the order also proved valuable in Nepal's final total.

In the chase, West Indies struggled mightily. With several senior players, including Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd, given a break to manage their workload, and Shimron Hetmyer refusing to travel for the series, the young West Indies lineup failed to deliver. Ackeem Auguste, Jewel Andrew, and Keacy Carty were unable to get going, as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Nepal's bowlers, led by Kushal Bhurtel's impressive figures of 2 for 17, kept the West Indies batters in check. The 19-run victory marked a historic moment for Nepal, who have now proven their ability to compete against the cricketing giants.

The defeat will be a significant setback for West Indies as they build towards the T20 World Cup, which is less than six months away. Head coach Daren Sammy has been vocal about the need to improve the team's standards, but the players' recent performance suggests they have more work to do to turn things around.