INTERVIEW
Follow UsNepal are going through a golden period in their cricketing journey.
They went on a remarkable run since Monty Desai took charge as head coach in February 2023 that saw them play the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, the Asia Cup and have also booked their place at the T20 World Cup later this year in the US and West Indies. That’s the most any associate country can dream of having.
With a benchmark set by Nepal last year, it is only natural to have higher expectations of them in 2024. They have not got off to the best of starts in the new cycle of the Cricket World Cup League 2 at home, which features Namibia and the Netherlands.
On surfaces where toss plays a pivotal role, Nepal have finished second-best twice against Namibia. However, between those losses, they absolutely decimated the Netherlands, giving them a harsh welcome to the tournament after flying high in the ODI Super League in the previous cycle.
Chasing a modest 138 against the Netherlands on February 17, Nepal opening batter Kushal Bhurtel wasted little time in going after the bowling, especially taking on off-spinner Aryan Dutt in the powerplay, which many at the World Cup found it tough. His 11-ball 28 killed the game off.
Under Desai, one of the most proactive players for Nepal is opening batter Bhurtel, who has made a conscious effort to get his team off to a flying start.
In the Monty Desai era, his runs have come at a strike-rate of 135.74 in T20Is, underlining the importance of aggression at the top. Moreover, he has even struck at 92.61 in the longer white-ball format, further showcasing his attacking prowess.
“My plan is if there is a ball to hit, I'll go for it. I always love to play attacking cricket, and my team is backing me,” Bhurtel told Cricket.com.
However, when there is a need to curb those attacking instincts, Bhurtel is ready to do the dirty job for his team, dig deep and fight it out. His 93-ball 66 against the Netherlands in Match 6 of the ongoing League 2 was a testament to that.
Bhurtel, a part-time leg-spinner, was also amongst the wickets in the tri-series and has shown excellent acrobatics when it comes to fielding, making him an all-round package in every sense.
Turning a certain six into a wicket.#NEPvNED #NEPT20I pic.twitter.com/JGl7IT07jP
— Bertus de Jong (@BdJcricket) March 2, 2024
As far as his bowling is concerned, he credits his skipper Rohit Paudel for backing him.
“From last two years, I have practiced regularly in the nets. I executed it well that day. Most credit goes to Rohit Paudel. He believed and trusted me. I executed it well. Really happy about it,” the 27-year-old said.
Under Desai, Nepal have an interesting concept on board, “One-ball battles”, where the batters or bowlers just get one ball on the field for five seconds. Not only has it helped them build focus and stay in the present, but it has also directly brought about a stunning change in the results.
In the last cycle, Nepal won 11 out of their last 12 home matches, making a direct entry into the World Cup Qualifiers last year, going from strength to strength.
“It has been one year. We enjoy really well with him. His tactics before and after the match. He is doing a fantastic job,” Bhurtel, who recently signed a deal with Gray-Nicolls, said.
Extremely grateful to be part of the @graynics family.
— Kushal Bhurtel (@kushalbhurtel14) February 18, 2024
These kits are amazing and of the highest quality in every details. I hope to soar to new heights with this gear. pic.twitter.com/xHb6mv1ENa
Growing up, Bhurtel was a football fan and even played the sport as a goalkeeper. However, his father was keen for his son to take up cricket.
“I used to play football. My dad is abroad, he is more passionate about cricket. His dream was for his son to play cricket. In 2012 I represented the country at Under-16, and in 2016, I played in the Under-19 World Cup and then the senior team,” he said.
In a bid to improve his skillset further, Bhurtel travelled to Australia at the end of 2023, where he played in the Victorian Premier Cricket tournament, sharing the dressing room with Scott Boland. All that experience and more could come in handy when he plays his maiden T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies in June.
Thank you so much Frankston peninsula cricket club for providing me this wonderful opportunity , Appreciate your acknowledgment and Looking forward to give my best . #NepalCricket pic.twitter.com/KF1o3ERwSc
— Kushal Bhurtel (@kushalbhurtel14) December 7, 2023
“I had a great tour in Australia, playing against premier players there and learn from there,” Bhurtel said.
Pure exhilaration: that indescribable feeling when hard work, dedication, and passion collide to propel you onto the world cricket stage. Qualifying for the T20 World Cup feels like touching the sky. Let the countdown to glory begin. #T20WorldCup #NepalCricket pic.twitter.com/BS1QYyrYdB
— Kushal Bhurtel (@kushalbhurtel14) November 3, 2023
“In 2014, I was a small child, who was dreaming to play in the T20 World Cup. After 10 years, we are here. I would love to play against Australia, but they are not in our group. I would love to face [Kagiso] Rabada and [Anrich] Nortje. I'm looking forward to it,” he further added.
2023 may have seen them scale new heights, but for Nepal and Bhurtel, it may very well be the foundation of a long, successful journey in 2024 and beyond.
