Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has tipped Nepal and the Netherlands to potentially upset teams like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Grouped alongside Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka in Group D, both teams have shown promising signs of causing a stir.
Gilchrist highlighted the international exposure of Nepal’s youngsters under Rohit Paudel’s leadership as a key factor in their potential success. “I think Nepal could fire a shot,” Gilchrist told SEN Radio. “They’ve got a couple of young players who have been in all the big leagues for a number of years now.”
However, Nepal faces a significant setback with ace leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane ruled out due to a rejected US visa application. Despite this, Gilchrist remains optimistic about their capabilities.
Turning his attention to the Netherlands, Gilchrist noted their history of strong performances in ICC events. Reflecting on their upset against South Africa in the 2022 T20 World Cup, he said, “The Dutch always seem to ruffle a few feathers. They nailed South Africa in the T20 World Cup last time in Australia. So, it might be the Dutch.”
Gilchrist also cited the recent example of the USA upsetting Bangladesh in a T20 series, emphasizing that lesser-known cricket nations are eager to seize opportunities against bigger teams. “With the T20 format, these nations can ruffle a few feathers and strengthen their cricket programs,” he observed. “The USA has fired a few shots against Bangladesh recently, beating them a few times.”
He underscored the importance of giving these nations a platform to showcase their talent, which can help firm up cricket programs globally. Both Nepal and the Netherlands will kick off their T20 World Cup campaigns on Tuesday, aiming to capitalize on the opportunities ahead.
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