Nepal vs Italy, Match 17 Match Summary

Heartbreak, hope and a group on the Line - Two T20 World Cups, two cruel heartbreaks for Nepal, edged by a single run against South Africa in 2024 and then falling four short against England in this edition, yet their refusal to go quietly and the fight they bring every time sets the tone as they head into a crucial Group C clash against Italy at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This is a game that could have a major say in how this group shapes up, with both teams coming in desperate to get their campaign back on track after opening-round defeats and knowing that another loss would leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. Resilient Nepal ready to strike back - Since the last World Cup, Nepal have quietly built a strong body of work in this format, highlighted by a 2-1 T20I series win over West Indies in 2025. That confidence runs through a batting group anchored by Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh at the top, the two highest scorers in T20Is for them in 2025. Skipper Rohit Paudel provides stability in the middle, while Deependra Singh Airee continues to be their most influential all-rounder, as he showed again against England with a fine all-round display. Lokesh Bam will be itching to put things right after being left stranded at the end of a superb knock in that narrow defeat. With the ball, Sandeep Lamichhane remains their biggest weapon with his leggies and googlies, and he is their leading wicket-taker in this format. He is supported by the pace of Karan KC and Nandan Yadav. Nepal also have growing variety in their attack, with Sher Malla making an immediate impact on debut by removing Salt with his very first delivery. Even so, Nepal will be keen to tighten their execution at the death after letting England slip away late. Debutants under pressure - Italy, meanwhile, are still trying to settle into life at their first-ever T20 World Cup, coming off a disappointing loss to Scotland that was made even harder by the injury to captain Wayne Madsen, whose dislocated left shoulder threatens to rule him out of the rest of the tournament, a particularly cruel twist after finally achieving his World Cup dream at the age of 42. Although the pressure of the big stage may have shown in that opening game, there were encouraging signs with the Manenti brothers among the runs and Benjamin registering a half-century, while the Mosca brothers, Justin and Anthony, will be key at the top in providing brisk starts to set the tone. In Madsen's absence, the responsibility will fall heavily on the power of JJ Smuts and the all-round skills of Grant Stewart, backed by a bowling group led by Ali Hasan and Thomas Draca with Crishan Kalugamage offering spin support, making this a contest where Nepal's experience of tight World Cup battles meets an Italian side eager to prove that their historic qualification was only the beginning. Team Form (Last 5 T20Is, latest result first) - Nepal - LWWWW | Italy - LWLLL. What to expect? What adds another layer to this contest is the venue factor, with Nepal already having played a high-scoring thriller here against England and knowing exactly how the Wankhede plays, while Italy arrive from Eden Gardens in Kolkata and will need to adjust quickly to different conditions, making this a game where early momentum, smart bowling at the death and the ability to adapt could prove decisive in a clash that promises plenty of runs and high drama. Whose side are you on?