Cricket in India, Nepal and Oda: PRADIYA's GenAlpha is playing
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In February 2026, Nepal played against England in the T20 World Cup. At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, in front of thousands of spectators. Nepal chased 185 runs - and missed the target by four runs. Lokesh Bam had to hit a six on the last ball. He didn't make it.
Oinak Singh told us the story from Oda. Oda is located in the Kalikot district, in northwestern Nepal - a three-hour walk from the nearest road. There, on an open space between the fields, Generation Alpha plays cricket.
Cricket: Culture, Not Just Sport
In South Asia, cricket is not a pastime – it is culture. Whether Mumbai or Kolkata, whether Delhi or Chennai: The ball lands on every open piece of ground, on every schoolyard, in every alley. Cricket is simply part of life before one even knows why.
India versus Pakistan is the biggest single game in sports ever – more global viewers than any other game, any other match, any other final. In February 2026, India met Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in Colombo. Ishan Kishan scored 77 runs in 40 balls. India won by 61 runs. Pakistan remained at 114.
But cricket connects more than it divides. The Nepal Cricket Association, founded in 1946 and an ICC member since 1996, has gradually led the country onto the international stage. In September 2025, Nepal beat the West Indies in a T20 series 2–1 — in Sharjah, on neutral ground, with real international cricket. At the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, Nepal qualified for the group stage. The game against England by four runs is already part of Nepalese cricket history.
Nepal continues to play in the Asian Games Men's Qualifier 2026. The country is no longer an underdog - it is a participant.
Where Cricket Hasn't Been Yet: Oda, Kalikot District
Oda is not a place you'll find on a typical map. The Kalikot district is located in northwestern Nepal, high in the mountains - one of the country's most remote regions. No road leads directly to Oda. Anyone who arrives there has walked for three hours from the nearest paved road.
Cricket hadn't made that journey until now.
27 children live in the PRADIYA children's home in Oda. The associated school is run according to Waldorf principles, is internationally oriented, offers full scholarships and teaches a total of 124 children. The land was provided by Oinak Singh – he grew up in Oda, studied law and decided to return to his homeland and build something there.
Oinak told us how cricket came to Oda.
Generation Alpha: Oda's First Mixed Cricket Team
On an open space between the fields, children from the PRADIYA children's home started playing cricket. With a real ball. Real equipment. A real playing field - as large as the space allows, bordered by the surrounding fields.
The team calls itself Generation Alpha. The name is no coincidence: In Nepal, a country that is in the process of reinventing itself politically and socially, these children represent a generation that doesn't yet have predefined templates. Generation Alpha plays by its own rules - but the same rules for everyone.
Boys and girls together.
In many villages in Nepal, this is not a matter of course. Girls often don't play with boys - not because of an explicit prohibition, but simply because it's not customary. Generation Alpha did things differently from the start. Whoever bats well, bats. Whoever bowls well, bowls. Gender doesn't matter on the field between the fields in Oda.
The team has already played - not just among themselves, but against a neighboring village. The opponents were older, all male. Generation Alpha still competed.
It's not about results. It's about the fact that this game exists.
What Cricket Means in a Remote Himalayan Village
In Oda, cricket is not a development program or an initiative. It's a game that children play - because they want to, because it's fun, because a ball, a field, and a few rules are enough to form a community.
Equality sounds grand. In Oda, it looks like this: A girl hits the ball. Everyone else runs.
That's the picture Oinak Singh described. And it's the picture that remains.
From Mumbai to Oda: Cricket as a Common Language
At the T20 World Cup 2026, Nepal played in Group C with England, Scotland, Italy, and the West Indies. Rohit Paudel captained the team. Nepal lost to England by four runs and to the West Indies by 134/1 to 133/8 — but Nepal was there. On the biggest stage that cricket has to offer.
In Oda, in the Kalikot district, the children know these games from stories. No television, no livestream. But the story travels. Oinak tells it. The children listen. And then they go to the field between the fields and play.
From Mumbai to Oda: a three-hour walk from the nearest road, and cricket has arrived.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cricket, Nepal, and the PRADIYA Children's Home
How did Nepal perform at the T20 World Cup 2026?
Nepal played in Group C at the T20 World Cup 2026. In the opening match against England on February 8, 2026, in Mumbai, Nepal missed victory by just four runs — a game that made cricket history. Captain Rohit Paudel led the team in his third T20 World Cup tournament.
What is Generation Alpha at the PRADIYA Children's Home?
Generation Alpha is the first mixed cricket team of the PRADIYA Children's Home in Oda, Kalikot District, Nepal. Boys and girls play together — on an open space between the village fields. The team has already played against a neighboring village. The name was chosen in the context of current developments in Nepal.
Where is Oda located in the Kalikot District, Nepal?
Oda is located in the Kalikot District in northwestern Nepal, high in the mountains. There is no direct road connection — the village is a three-hour walk from the nearest road. There, PRADIYA operates a children's home with 27 children and a school with 124 schoolchildren.
How can I contribute to the PRADIYA Children's Home in Nepal?
Every PRADIYA Angora scarf sold provides one child in Oda with a month of sponsorship. If you wish to donate directly, you can do so through the non-profit organization PRADIYA — with a donation receipt. All information is available at pradiya.com.
Why does cricket play a role in India and Nepal?
In India and Nepal, cricket is much more than just a sport — it is a cultural asset that connects generations and communities. Nepal has established itself internationally in recent years: ICC member since 1996, T20 World Cup participations in 2014 and 2026, series win against the West Indies in September 2025. In Oda, one of Nepal's most remote regions, cricket has now also arrived — with Generation Alpha.
More about the children's home and the project in Oda: The Project in Nepal.
If you want to directly trigger a monthly sponsorship with a purchase: PRADIYA Angora Scarves.