KATHMANDU: In the 2014 T20 World Cup held in Bangladesh, the Nepali national cricket team started successfully by securing an 80-run victory against Hong Kong. Almost all Nepalis watched that historic moment on television screens. 11-year-old Nandan Yadav also watched that match on his home television.

For Nandan, that World Cup was not just a sport; it was a coincidence that increased his heartbeat for cricket. The sight of our players standing proudly on the world stage carrying the national flag first filled his heart, and then he made a resolve that “one day I too will step onto the field wearing the blue jersey.”

There is a saying in Nepali that after 12 years, time completes its cycle! This saying holds true in Nandan’s case. As Nepal made its third World Cup participation meaningful this week, Nandan also became a part of the national team.

He fulfilled the resolution made 12 years ago by playing his first match against England in the T20 World Cup on February 8 at the famous Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. In the ongoing World Cup, England is no ordinary team. Having won the T20 World Cup two times, England has already proven its superiority in the ‘short format’ of cricket.

Competing with such a team was no small matter for an associate nation like us. However, instead of feeling pressure in the first match, Nandan conversely put pressure on established names in world cricket. He showed the way to the pavilion to elite batters like Jos Buttler and Harry Brook. Due to his influential bowling, England could not exceed a total of 184. In the match, Nepal lost by four runs despite coming close to victory. After this, Nandan apologized to Nepali supporters, saying, “It would have been better if we could have won. This is a regret for me.”

His confidence was praiseworthy. He bowled influentially in four matches of the World Cup, taking five wickets at an average of 11 runs. Due to this performance, talk that the country has found a good bowler has reached its peak.

Mesmerizing performance by Sompal

When Nepal made its historic debut in the World Cup in 2014, the enthusiasm for cricket across the country was at its peak. That atmosphere left a deep impression of cricket in the minds of many children. Nandan was not untouched by that.

Nandan during a practice match in Sri Lanka. Photo Courtesy: CAN

At that time, he was most influenced by Sompal Kami’s bowling. Interestingly, in this World Cup, he was found sharing the ball on the field with his own ‘idol,’ Sompal. Having grown up watching Sompal’s disciplined run-up and precise line length in the World Cup a decade ago, he said after getting the opportunity to bowl alongside Sompal at Wankhede, “After seeing Nandan’s performance, I felt like I am nothing.”

In 2015, Nandan entered Kathmandu for studies. At that time, he says a phone call from friend Dilip Yadav changed the direction of his life. Dilip used to train at the Kathmandu Cricket Training Center (KCTC) operated by the vice-captain of the Nepali team, Gyanendra Malla. After learning this, Nandan could not stop himself and immediately enrolled in the said academy.

In the academy operated by Malla, not only Dilip but also many players like Nandan, who dreamt of becoming national players after watching the World Cup, used to train, and Sumit Maharjan was also present. Sumit had already represented the national team in age-group matches. When he came to training, he would carry a T-shirt and kitbag marked with the Nepal flag. Seeing him, Nandan felt very envious. He would think to himself that ‘One day I will also come wearing that very T-shirt.’

Sure enough, his wish was fulfilled in 2016. At that time, even though the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was facing a suspension from the International Cricket Council (ICC), franchise cricket began from the private sector. The Everest Premier League (EPL) announced during that sequence brought a big turning point in his career. He became associated with Colors X-Factors, the team for which Gyanendra himself was the marquee player.

For him, at the age of 13, getting to play on the same team as a seasoned player like Gyanendra Malla was no small matter. However, he remained wicketless in the tournament. But, in the same year, he had the good fortune of being included in the team along with talented players like Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Rohit Kumar Paudel, and Sandeep Lamichhane for the U-19 Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka.

Nandan playing his debut World Cup on February 8. Photo Courtesy: CAN

In this tournament as well, he remained wicketless. In the final match of the semi-finals against Malaysia, he had to be ‘dropped’ from the final 11.

Door opened by EPL

In 2021, the EPL was organized again. At that time, he became associated with the Pokhara Rhinos, captained by Binod Bhandari. In the tournament, he placed himself in the fourth position in the list of highest wicket-takers by taking nine wickets in seven innings.

In the same year, the Kathmandu Mayors Cup was also organized, in which he participated from Bagmati Province. After taking eight wickets and scoring 109 runs in four matches of the tournament, the door of opportunity for the national team opened for him.

The news of making a place in the national team going to play League-2 in Namibia was itself unexpected for him. “I hadn’t even expected it. Hearing the news of suddenly being in the team, it felt like my body went numb,” he has said in an interview. Six years after taking cricket training, he had received the chance to play for the national team. But, as other players dominated the team, he did not get to debut in Namibia at all. After this, he headed to Australia.

This is indeed a misfortune for Nepali cricket players; those who cannot make a place in the national team get to play only one tournament a year. Due to such a structure, players from low- and middle-income families face great hardship.

Remembering the past, he says, “The parents had hope that their son would do something. But, after reaching a state where I could not move forward staying in Nepal, I had no other option before me except going abroad.”

At that time, Nandan was at a peak in cricket. Playing for Biratnagar Kings in the Nepal T20 League, he had already taken 16 wickets in 13 matches. However, a dilemma was going on in his mind about whether to continue cricket or go to Australia. Later, he chose to fly to Australia.

In Australia, former opener Subash Khakurel took full responsibility for his residence and initial management. Therefore, he got the opportunity to train along with work. In a cricket academy opened in the name of former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, he would sharpen the edge of his bowling two days a week. This filled him with new energy.

Nandan bowling against Scotland. Photo Courtesy: CAN

Meanwhile, Nepal saved its One-Day status by winning 11 out of 12 matches in League-2 and got the chance to return to the World Cup in 2024. The achievement gained after a long wait led the journey of Nepali cricket toward a new chapter. Being unable to witness these achievements, Nandan’s mind in Australia used to remain sad. Although he had sacrificed the dream of playing for the national team due to family reasons, his heart was not ready to accept this.

Nandan, who stayed in Nepal after throwing the boarding pass

In 2024, CAN itself announced the organization of a franchise league for the first time. At that time, he also registered his name from Australia. Fortunately, Karnali Yaks, where Gyanendra was the head coach, brought him in for Rs 1.1 million. To take Karnali to Qualifier-2 in the first edition, Nandan took nine wickets. After this performance, Nandan’s life took a new turn.

When coming to play in the NPL (Nepal Premier League), he had brought an Australia return ticket with him. But, after stepping onto the domestic TU ground in Kirtipur again, his mind wavered. The flight schedule to return to Australia was fixed for January 17, 2025. For this, he had also reached Tribhuvan Airport. Before the plane took off, he had even taken blessings from his mother Samira in Siraha by phone. But, at the last moment, his mind changed. He did not just cancel his ticket by going to the counter but also put a stop to his secure future in Australia.

“While returning from the airport, I had taken a resolve to do something in Nepal,” he says. He has fulfilled the promise he made then in the World Cup. At this time, his bowling is being praised everywhere.

Two months after returning from the airport, he got the opportunity to debut in T20 for the national team. In the series organized in Hong Kong, he took six wickets and also scored 37 runs.

Before being included in the T20 World Cup team, he also played One-Day in Scotland under the ICC Cricket World Cup League-2. He was kept on the bench for three matches. But, before the final match, after fast bowler Sompal got injured, he received the opportunity. He debuted in one-day cricket against the Netherlands. He is the 42nd player to debut in international cricket. In the debut match itself, he bowled excellently and took three wickets. Nepal won this match by 16 runs. Since then, he has been a regular player on the national team. In the second NPL, he again took 10 wickets playing for the Karnali Yaks.

The discipline seen in bowling, the ability to find rhythm with both the new and old ball, and the quality of maintaining line length even in pressure situations have made him special in the national team. Especially due to his ability to maintain control in the powerplay and death overs, he has fallen into the choice of coach Stuart Law.

At a time when experienced bowlers Sompal and Karan are both at the twilight of their careers, the arrival of Nandan has made Nepali cricket happy again.

Best wishes to Nandan Yadav for a good performance in the World Cup.