Italy pulled off a massive upset in Group C of the T20 World Cup 2026 in the NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 game. They dismantled Nepal by 10 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. The Rhinos were coming off a close loss to England. However, they failed to adapt to the conditions and fell apart for a measly 123.
NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026: 4 Turning Points That Cost Nepal the Match
Italy’s spinners did the damage. Crishan Kalugamage and Ben Manenti pounced on Nepal’s shaky technique on a track that was turning. Then, the Mosca brothers took charge. Justin and Anthony tore into the target with total authority. This loss leaves Nepal’s campaign in a mess. Meanwhile, Italy celebrates a huge win in their first-ever tournament.
1. The Spin Ambush
Italy read the Wankhede pitch for the NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 game way better than Nepal did. Most teams look for pace and bounce in Mumbai. But the Italian coaches noticed the dry surface underneath and went with spin right away.
Ben Manenti and Crishan Kalugamage dried up the runs instantly. Manenti hit his spots perfectly, giving away only nine runs in four overs. He forced the batters to take big, unnecessary risks.
Kalugamage got the ball to turn sharply and cut right through the middle order. Nepal’s batters looked stuck in the crease instead of coming down the pitch. That let the Italian spinners run the show. It was a smart move by stand-in captain Harry Manenti. He neutralised Nepal’s hitters before they even got going.
2. Paudel’s Premature Exit
Rohit Paudel was the only one who looked like he could save Nepal in the NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 game. The captain looked sharp early on. He smashed two big sixes to fight back after Kushal Bhurtel went early. He seemed to have a good read on the Italian bowlers, finding gaps and keeping the scoreboard moving.
But then he got out in the seventh over, and Nepal’s momentum died right there. He tried to power a ball from Kalugamage over the boundary, but he didn’t quite get it and picked out the fielder in the deep.
That mistake cost them the game. If Paudel had stayed in for five more overs, Nepal might have put up a decent score. Once he left, the shaky middle order had to face a bowling unit that was full of confidence.
3. The Middle-Order Stagnation
Everything fell apart after Paudel got out in the NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 game. Experienced players like Dipendra Singh Airee and Aarif Sheikh couldn’t get a partnership going. Instead of keeping things steady, they got stuck playing dot balls. This just let the pressure build and build.
Airee was usually the guy who finished things off. This time, though, he completely misread a googly from Kalugamage and lost his stumps. The batters just didn’t have a plan for the spinning ball.
They weren’t sweeping and they weren’t rotating the strike. That dry spell in the middle overs was the real killer. Nepal lost wickets in bunches and only managed 56 runs between the 7th and 15th overs. That’s why the total ended up so low.
4. The Mosca Brothers’ Blitzkrieg
Nepal needed early wickets to defend 123, but the Mosca brothers weren’t having it. Justin and Anthony Mosca went after the Nepalese bowlers from the very first ball in the NEP vs ITA T20 World Cup 2026 game. They didn’t just survive the Powerplay; they tore it to pieces.
Justin Mosca used his feet well against the spinners and kept lofting the ball over the infield. Anthony, on the other hand, hammered anything that was slightly short. By the end of the Powerplay, Italy had flown to 58/0.
The game was basically over. Their aggressive style took the heart out of the fielders and quieted the massive crowd of Nepal fans. This brave batting display ensured Italy cruised past the finish line with plenty of time to spare.
