KATHMANDU: The pitch at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, is widely regarded as batter friendly. Its short boundaries, quick outfield, and consistent bounce provide ideal conditions for aggressive stroke play, often producing high-scoring encounters. However, favorable batting conditions do not make strategy any less important. On the contrary, such surfaces demand precise planning, disciplined bowling variations, and strong mental composure, as even minor mistakes can rapidly shift the momentum of a match.

Rather, strategy and mental preparedness become even more crucial on such a surface. After narrowly conceding their opening Group C match of the ICC (International Cricket Council) T20 World Cup to England, this is precisely what Nepal must prioritize as they take the field for their second fixture against Italy. Maintaining composure, executing plans under pressure, and adapting swiftly to match situations will be central to their approach.

Under the World Cup, Nepal is playing its second match against Italy on Thursday at 3:15. For the match, Nepali players appear fully prepared. Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel says, “Playing against England for the first time was like a dream for us. The result was not in our favor. However, there are many places to improve.”

Before being defeated by a narrow margin of four runs against England on Sunday, former Indian test spinner Harbhajan Singh had claimed that Nepal’s performance would be weak. Harbhajan Singh had asserted that if they batted first against Nepal, England would score more than 300 runs. But contrary to his estimation, Nepal put up a brave performance, stopping England at 184 runs and scoring 180 runs against the two-time world champion team.

England’s Jacob Bethell batting against Nepal. Photo: AP Photo/RSS

“The match against England has instilled tremendous confidence in the team. We pushed a title contender to the limit,” Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel said after the game. “The key takeaway for us was learning how to make sound decisions under pressure and execute our plans with discipline in crucial moments.”

In that match, Nepal did not just maintain competition until the final over; it performed with planned batting, the ability to ‘rotate strike’ according to the situation, and by remaining calm under pressure. In the World Cup jointly organized by the United States and the West Indies two years ago, Nepal had reached a similar situation and was defeated by South Africa by one run.

Italy in a different direction

Italy has shown steady improvement in recent months, prompting Nepal to adopt a measured approach for Thursday’s clash. Captain Rohit Kumar Paudel emphasized caution, stating that Italy is a competitive side in good form and that Nepal will not underestimate any opponent.

Nepal, which made its World Cup debut in 2014 with victories over Hong Kong and Afghanistan, has not recorded a win in the tournament since. A triumph over Italy would mark Nepal’s first World Cup victory in 12 years.

For Italy, the fixture also presents an opportunity to regroup. They secured their maiden World Cup berth by defeating Guernsey and Scotland in the ICC T20 World Cup European Qualifiers.

Italy’s Harry Manenti bats against Scotland on 9 Feb. Photo: AP Photo/RSS

At this World Cup, Italy had targeted victories over at least two associate nations, Nepal and Scotland. Heading into the tournament, they appeared well prepared, securing a four-wicket win over Ireland in their final pre-World Cup series match and registering warm-up victories against Canada by 10 runs and the United Arab Emirates by 112 runs. However, their campaign began with a setback, as they suffered a 73-run defeat to Scotland in their opening World Cup fixture.

In this World Cup, Italy had set a goal to defeat at least two associate nations, Nepal and Scotland. But after the defeat against Scotland, the team’s morale must surely have dropped. Captain Wayne Madsen suffered shoulder injuries in the very first match. There is a strong possibility that Harry Manenti will captain against Nepal in his place.

Against Scotland, Italy used seven different bowling options. However, it could not stop the target of 208 runs. In the counter-attack, six of Italy’s batters were out for single-digit runs. Three batters were out for a duck. Except for Ben Manenti’s half-century and some aggressive hits from Harry, the team’s performance remained weak.

Ben and Harry build a strong partnership of 74 runs in 46 balls for the fourth wicket. While Harry made 37 runs, Ben played an innings of 52 runs. This was his first half-century in T20.

According to an ICC media report, 17,008 spectators filled Wankhede Stadium to watch Nepal’s opening match against England. Italy’s head coach, Jon Davison, acknowledged that playing in front of such a large crowd was a rare experience for his side, noting that it offered valuable exposure during their match against Scotland.

Nepal, meanwhile, is set to play all its World Cup group stage fixtures at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India. Familiar conditions and strong crowd support are expected to give Nepal an advantage, effectively turning the venue into a home away from home.

Nepali fans attend the match between Nepal and England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 8 Feb. Photo: AP Photo/RSS

Citing an ICC media report which said 17,008 spectators reached Wankhede to watch Nepal’s match against England, Davison admits that Nepal will have an advantage in Thursday’s match.

He says, “We have to make a comeback in the tournament. However, Nepal are a strong opponent. Playing all four of their matches on the same ground will give them a huge advantage.”

A team from abroad: Italy’s 15-man roster is fully expatriate

The 15-member Italy squad preparing for their second match against Nepal features players from diverse backgrounds. Five are ‘home-based,’ having grown up or resided in Italy, while the remaining members hail from Australia, South Africa, and England. All players have acquired Italian citizenship through family ties.

Interestingly, none of these players were born in Italy, yet many hold Italian passports. The squad includes two pairs of Australian brothers: Harry and Ben Manenti, and Justin and Anthony Mosca, who joined the Italian team after playing in Australia’s renowned Big Bash League (BBL). Ben Manenti was a key player when South Australia won last season’s domestic Sheffield Shield.

Among Italy’s experienced players, 37-year-old JJ Smuts is considered special. A former South African international player, Smuts obtained eligibility to play for Italy through his wife’s family connections. Frequently seen in T20 franchise cricket, he is a top-order aggressive batter and a useful left-arm spinner.

The team’s 42-year-old captain, Wayne Madsen, was born in South Africa, later moved to England, and currently leads the Derbyshire club, boasting experience in 253 first-class matches. Australian-born Grant Stewart also plays domestic cricket in England, representing Kent.

Among the home-based players, Zain Ali, born in Pakistan, moved to Italy with his family at the age of two and serves as an all-rounder for the team. Hasnain Ali and Sukhwinder Singh are also of Pakistani origin, while Jaspreet Singh was born in India and raised in Italy. The Italian squad is completed by Marcus Campopiano (England), Gian-Piero Meade (South Africa), and Thomas Draca (an English citizen of Australian origin).