Harry Manenti won the toss and immediately put Nepal in, setting up a Group C encounter at the Wankhede that both sides have earmarked as must-win.
Italy’s stand-in captain is covering for Wayne Madsen, whose dislocated shoulder against Scotland has ended his tournament. That injury forced a single batting reshuffle: Marcus Campopiano comes in at No. 6. The seam attack is also tweaked, Jaspreet Singh replacing Thomas Draca in what Manenti called “a straight swap”.
“We have to be brave, that’s been our focus,” Manenti said. “We’re playing teams well above us in the rankings. We’re like the outsiders. We just have to be brave and take the game on.”
Rohit Paudel admitted he, too, would have bowled first had the coin fallen his way. Having faced England on the same strip earlier in the week, the Nepal skipper expects the surface to slow up and provide turn later on – conditions that should suit Sandeep Lamichhane and new inclusion Lalit Rajbanshi.
The left-arm spinner replaces mystery man Sher Malla, who leaked 35 runs in three overs against England despite dismissing Phil Salt. Paudel explained the decision in pragmatic terms. “That’s one area we can improve,” he said of the death overs. “Both while batting and bowling. It’s about holding our nerves, absorbing pressure and being present in those moments.”
Nepal’s narrow four-run loss to England hinged on late-innings execution: 21 runs conceded in the final over, then ten required but not found off the last six balls with the bat. The captain insists those lessons have already been discussed in the dressing-room.
More than 15,000 Nepalese supporters roared their team on in that match, and a similar turnout is expected this evening. “Great to have fans like them,” Paudel smiled. “They motivate us a lot. After the England game, we saw on social media how a lot of people are watching us live in Nepal. It gives motivation to the boys.”
Playing XIs
Italy: Anthony Mosca, Justin Mosca, JJ Smuts, Harry Manenti (capt), Ben Manenti, Marcus Campopiano, Grant Stewart, Gian Meade (wk), Jaspreet Singh, Crishan Kalugamage, Ali Hasan.
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (capt), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi.
First ball is scheduled for 19:00 local time, with the Mumbai humidity likely to test bowlers’ grip later on. For Italy, a victory would keep quarter-final hopes simmering; for Nepal, it would be a timely lift before tougher assignments ahead.
