By Anas Ahmed 
Match Context: Nepal vs West Indies – 1st T20I 2025 Preview
This fixture marks a historic moment for Nepal cricket, facing off against the mighty West Indies in Sharjah. While the Caribbean side enters as favourites on paper, their inconsistent T20 form opens the door for Nepal to spring a surprise.
- Nepal: Showing signs of promise with young talent, though their results remain mixed.
- West Indies: A powerhouse in T20 history, but recent struggles underline the need for stability and firepower.
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Date & Time: September 27, 2025, 7:00 PM local
Series: Nepal vs West Indies T20I Series (Nepal tour of UAE)
Recent Form (Last 5 T20Is)
- Nepal: ❌ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌
- West Indies: ❌ ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌
Both teams come in with patchy form, adding unpredictability to this clash.
Players to Watch
Nepal
- Rohit Paudel (Captain): The batting mainstay who has anchored Nepal’s innings in recent tournaments.
- Kushal Bhurtel: Aggressive opener capable of taking on the new ball bowlers.
- Sandeep Lamichhane: The star leg-spinner, known for troubling top-order batters with variations.
West Indies
- Nicholas Pooran: Explosive middle-order batter, and currently their most reliable T20 performer.
- Rovman Powell: Skipper and finisher, brings raw power in the death overs.
- Alzarri Joseph: Pace spearhead who can rattle Nepal’s top order with early breakthroughs.
Pitch & Conditions – Sharjah
- Sharjah has traditionally been a batter-friendly surface, with short boundaries favouring stroke play.
- Spinners get assistance as the match progresses under lights.
- Average first innings score: 160–170.
- Toss: Winning captain may prefer batting first to apply pressure.
Key Battles
- Kushal Bhurtel vs Alzarri Joseph – Nepal’s attacking opener vs WI’s express pace.
- Sandeep Lamichhane vs Nicholas Pooran – Nepal’s trump card spinner against West Indies’ in-form batter.
- Rohit Paudel vs Akeal Hosein – captain vs left-arm spin in the middle overs.
Prediction Nepal vs West Indies – 1st T20I 2025
- West Indies hold the edge with their batting depth and T20 pedigree.
- However, Nepal’s spinners could exploit Sharjah’s conditions and make this closer than expected.
Favourites: West Indies, but expect Nepal to challenge if their spinners click.
Zainab Shafiq