New Delhi: Cricket diplomacy is now redefining India-Nepal ties, with the Indian government supporting the development of cricket in Nepal by offering training opportunities to Nepalese cricketers in India. As part of this partnership, the Nepal Men’s National Cricket Team will undergo an intensive training camp at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru from 20 August to 4 September 4.
The camp is crucial ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers scheduled for October in Oman. This is the second consecutive year the team has trained at the facility, following a similar session in August 2024.
Over the past two years, both countries have seen a structured collaboration between the Government of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
This cricket collaboration goes beyond the senior squad. In March 2025, India supported a practice series in Nepal played between Nepal’s Under-19 team and the Delhi and District Cricket Association’s U19 side, ahead of the ICC U19 World Cup Qualifiers.
In July 2025, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu also facilitated professional training in Bhopal for three promising Under-19 Nepali cricketers.
Women’s cricket is seeing similar momentum. Nepal’s Women’s National Team trained in Delhi in April-May 2025 to prepare for the ICC Women’s Asia World Cup Qualifiers in Thailand, where they went on to reach the finals.
This initiative gained a formal push in January 2024, when India’s foreign minister, Dr S. Jaishankar met Nepal’s Men’s National Team and CAN officials. Reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting the sport’s growth in Nepal, the meeting signaled a deeper shift: From soft diplomacy to sustained development cooperation.
India’s support for Nepalese cricket isn’t new. In 2013, New Delhi gifted a team bus to CAN. In October 2023, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu presented professional cricket gear to Nepal’s national side through the B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation and SJVN Ltd.
What sets the current phase apart is its scale and continuity. With year-round engagements, targeted training camps, and cross-border tournaments, India is actively helping Nepal transition from emerging cricketing nation to serious international contender.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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