Why Sher Malla is Not Playing Today in Nepal vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026?

Nepal and Italy are playing their second match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both teams lost their first match of the tournament and would want to make a comeback with a win today.

Italy stand in skipper, Harry Manenti, won the toss and opted to bowl first. Meanwhile, Nepal have made a surprising exclusion in the playing by benching Sher Malla.

Why Sher Malla is Not Playing Today against Nepal?

Sher Malla made his debut in Nepal's last match, which was against England. However, the leg spinner didn't have a great outing as he conceded 35 runs in three overs while taking only one wicket.

Due to his below-par performance in the last match, the team management decided to bench him. Left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi has been named as Sher Malla replacement for the Nepal vs Italy T20 World Cup 2026 match. Nepal would be hoping for a better performance from Rajbanshi after their heartbreaking defeat against England, losing the match by a mere margin of just four runs.

What Led to Lalit Rajbanshi's inclusion in the Team?

Lalit Rajbanshi is one of the most experienced players in the Nepal squad. The left-arm orthodox spinner has featured in 37 T20I matches, claiming 36 wickets at an average of 21.58, with his best figures of 3/6 against the Maldives. While he hasn’t faced some of the best cricket teams in the world, like India, Australia, or South Africa, most of his T20I experience comes against associate nations.

In comparison, Lalit brings significantly more experience than Sher Malla, who recently made his T20I debut. Fans can expect a stronger performance from the left-arm spinner today. His ability to deliver crucial spells could be key in helping Nepal register their first win of the tournament.