The ties between Nepal and India are not only rooted in shared history, culture, and geography, but have increasingly grown stronger through sports—most notably cricket. This people-to-people bond has gained further momentum through India’s continuous assistance in developing Nepali cricket.
During Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s recent visit to Nepal, his admiration and respect for Nepali cricket further underscored India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through sports diplomacy. Following his visit, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu reaffirmed ongoing initiatives to support cricket in Nepal.
One notable initiative is the Indian Ambassador’s Cup Cricket Tournament, which has offered aspiring Nepali players opportunities for international-level exposure. Most recently, under the ‘Ambassador’s Cricket Fellowship’ announced in June 2025, three U-19 Nepali cricketers—Naren Bhatt, Sahil Patel, and Pooja Mahato—were selected for a month-long high-performance training program at L.B. Shastri Cricket Academy in Bhopal, India.
According to the Indian Embassy, this program aims not only to hone the skills of young Nepali talent but also to deepen grassroots cultural connections between the two countries through shared enthusiasm for cricket.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, met the selected players in the presence of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) President Chatur Bahadur Chand. During the meeting, Ambassador Srivastava highlighted the role of sports in strengthening the longstanding India-Nepal friendship, expressing optimism that such professional training would significantly enhance the players’ capabilities and contribute to the bright future of Nepali cricket.
Further strengthening the partnership, the Nepali national men’s cricket team is currently undergoing a special training camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from July 21 to August 3, 2025. This training is a part of Nepal’s preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier scheduled in Oman in October.
India’s cricket support for Nepal is not new. The Nepali team had also trained in Bengaluru in August 2024, and in April of the same year, a triangular practice series was held with Baroda and Gujarat cricket teams. On the women’s side, following a training stint in Delhi in April-May 2025, the Nepali women’s team advanced to the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup Asia Qualifier in Thailand.
Youth development remains a core priority. In March 2025, practice matches were held between the U-19 teams of Nepal and Delhi to strengthen Nepal’s readiness for the U-19 World Cup qualifiers.
India’s long-standing cooperation with Nepali cricket is also evident in past gestures such as the gifting of a team bus in 2013 and the recent donation of sports equipment through SJVN Limited in 2023.
Cricket has evolved beyond being just a sport; it has become a vibrant bridge of friendship, youth empowerment, and mutual respect between India and Nepal—symbolizing a shared journey towards trust, collaboration, and regional unity.
