Winless Nepal and one-win Scotland meet in Mumbai with Super Eights hopes already gone

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They arrived at the 2026 T20 World Cup with little to lose, but Nepal and Scotland head into their final Group C fixture wondering what might have been. Scotland’s late entry after Bangladesh’s expulsion offered unexpected opportunity, while Nepal appeared poised to announce themselves on the global stage after pushing established sides to the brink.

Both teams came agonisingly close to changing the narrative. Nepal were just 11 runs from eight balls away from beating England in their opener, while Scotland left around 30 runs untapped in their innings against the same opposition, margins that might have allowed them to better exploit England’s nerves in a narrow defence of 152.

Nepal’s comprehensive defeat to West Indies shut the door on their qualification hopes, before England edged past Italy to seal a Super Eights berth. What could have been a winner-takes-all clash is now a pride contest, though the stakes remain significant for two Associate nations eager to prove their worth.

That pride arguably weighs heavier for Nepal. Captain Rohit Paudel has called for more opportunities against Full Member teams after their spirited showing against England. Ending the tournament with a maiden T20 World Cup victory would strengthen that argument, particularly with their supporters creating a strong presence in the stands.

Scotland, however, are no strangers to these challenges. Despite this being their sixth T20 World Cup, their preparation has been sparse; between the 2024 edition and this tournament, they played just seven T20Is outside qualifiers, only three of them against Full Members in a series versus Australia. This match represents another chance to underline their credentials.

Their campaign began brightly in Kolkata with a 73-run win over Italy, becoming the first team at this World Cup to cross 200, before defeats to West Indies and England followed. Familiarity between the sides adds intrigue: a tri-series in Scotland last summer finished 1-1, highlighted by Sandeep Lamichhane inspiring Nepal in a low-scoring thriller before Scotland responded emphatically.

Venue knowledge could favour Nepal, who have already played three matches at Wankhede Stadium, while Scotland are debuting here. Yet Nepal’s batting has not rediscovered the heights briefly threatened by Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee and Lokesh Bam against England, faltering instead against Italy and West Indies.

For Scotland, discipline will be key after costly errors, particularly against spin-friendly conditions expected in Mumbai. As Tom Bruce noted, adapting quickly will be crucial on a surface likely to be slower and offer turn. With advancement no longer possible, both teams will seek to close their campaigns with a statement performance rather than another lingering “what if.”