R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s Online Banter on Nepal’s T20 World Cup Campaign Leaves Fans in Splits

R Ashwin rightfully praised Dipendra Singh Airee, whose 169 runs at an average of 56.33 cemented his position as Nepal’s leading run-scorer.

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s Online Banter on Nepal’s T20 World Cup Campaign Leaves Fans in Splits

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja involved in a hilarious banter over Nepal's T20 World Cup performace. (via Mint)

In Short
  • R Ashwin praised Nepal's performance in the 2026 T20 World Cup despite their early exit.
  • He called for full-member teams to tour Nepal for bilateral series to provide exposure and mentorship.
  • Ravindra Jadeja humorously suggested a Test series in Nepal, sparking a playful exchange on social media.

Ex-India spinner R Ashwin commended Nepal for their strong showing in the 2026 T20 World Cup, even though the associate nation was eliminated from the group stages. Ashwin called for teams to engage in bilateral cricket with Nepal, a suggestion that drew a response from Ravindra Jadeja.

The ongoing 2026 T20 World Cup has seen it all, from smaller associate teams posing a challenge to the powerhouses to the mighty Australian team suffering an early exit. Nepal, playing in the T20 WC for only the third time in history, has stood out as one of the success stories. Although Nepal has been knocked out of the group stages after winning just one of their four group matches, the players have earned widespread praise.

Nepal’s WC opener against England grabbed headlines, as they lost out to the two-time champions by a slim margin of four runs. In Mumbai, Nepal came close to the massive 185-run target, but their lack of experience meant they fell short, finishing at 180/6.

The defeat to England hit them hard, as they suffered consecutive heavy defeats to Italy and West Indies. Nepal ultimately finished their campaign on a high, securing their first win against Scotland by seven wickets.

It even forced former Indian spinner R Ashwin, who had initially been skeptical about the T20 World Cup’s viewership, to reverse his opinion. Ashwin took to social media to praise the Nepalese team, while urging full-member ICC nations to consider touring the country for bilateral series in the future. He emphasized the need for exposure and mentorship, while also praising hard-hitting all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee for his contribution.

Interestingly, Ashwin received an amusing response from Ravindra Jadeja, who hilariously suggested that the Men in Blue could instead tour Nepal for a three-match Test series. The veteran all-rounder even dubbed Ashwin ‘Ashinfo’, a humorous mix of his name with the well-known cricket app, ESPN Cricinfo, referencing the 39-year-old’s recent commentary on cricketing matters on his YouTube show ‘Ash Ki Baat’. He wrote:

Yeh ashinfo 3 test match series??

Nevertheless, Ashwin responded by agreeing to his former teammate’s playful remark, leaving fans in splits over their banter. On his YouTube show, R Ashwin had even suggested that the BCCI consider sending top state teams or India ‘A’ side to tour Nepal.

‘Ashinfo’ banter: R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s playful exchange on Nepal’s cricketing future goes viral

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja engaged in a humorous social media banter, concerning the future of the Nepalese cricket team. Ashwin proposed that more established teams should tour Nepal, suggesting it would aid them financially, to which Jadeja had a witty response. 

Nepal performance R Ashwin
R Ashwin demanded team to tour Nepal for bilateral series. (via NDTV Sports)

Fans took to social media to share their reactions, with Nepalese fans hoping for the 37-year-old all-rounder’s comment to be sarcastic. One fan noted that an ODI or T20I tour would be helpful, while others pointed to the fact that Italy also could be considered for future bilateral series. Additionally, a mocking comment suggested that Nepalese players lack the experience for a five-day Test match.

A few others exclaimed that Jadeja would jump at the opportunity to tour Nepal, even scoring a century or taking a five-wicket haul against them. Some fans noted that a Test match between Nepal and India is bound to end in a day or two. Critics, on the other hand, pointed to India’s poor form in the longest format of the game, suggesting that the Men in Blue might only be able to compete against the Nepalese team.

Several cricket enthusiasts have urged for associate team players to be included in franchise T20 leagues around the world, including the IPL. Some even pointed out that a rule should be put in place to require franchise leagues to select at least one associate player.

Read More: