“No One Really Cares About Them”: Aakash Chopra Criticizes Big Teams After Nepal’s Narrow Loss to England

MUMBAI: Nepal came agonizingly close to defeating two-time champions England in the T20 World Cup 2026, falling short by just four runs. Despite their spirited performance, former Indian opener and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra expressed frustration over the way smaller teams like Nepal are treated by cricketing powerhouses.

Aakash Chopra Calls Out Big Teams
Nepal nearly pulled off a historic upset but fell short in the final over, needing 10 runs to win. Chopra argued that if bigger cricketing nations played consistently against emerging teams like Nepal, the outcome might have been different. “I’m going to talk about what we do with associate or slightly lower-ranked teams. It’s just token participation. It’s performative,” Chopra said. “They do good work, you praise them, and then two years later, you forget them. You say, ‘Well done, thank you,’ and then you never interact with them again.”

No Sympathy for the Underprivileged Teams
Chopra highlighted that big cricketing nations are largely indifferent to smaller teams. “It doesn’t matter to us. We move on. We go home and play our bilateral series and tournaments. No one cares about them. When I see them crumble under pressure, fail at decisive moments, or struggle to maintain composure, it’s the same story over and over,” he added.

Nepal’s Brave Effort
On the field, Nepal gave a masterclass in courage. Chasing England’s 185, Nepal reached 180/6. Lokesh Bam scored an unbeaten 39 off just 20 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes, while Deependra Singh contributed 44 off 29 deliveries. However, Sam Curran’s composed final over denied Nepal the victory, leaving them agonizingly short of a historic win.

Despite the loss, Nepal’s performance has won admiration worldwide, and their fight against a top-tier team like England has firmly established them as a rising force in world cricket.