Indian Embassy cricket tournament in Kathmandu deepens India-Nepal ties
Synopsis
Cricket did more than entertain in Kathmandu this week — it served as a diplomatic instrument. The Indian Embassy's second Ambassador's Cricket Tournament brought eight teams together across three days, and ended with India gifting professional cricket kits to three Nepali U-19 women cricketers ahead of a World Cup Nepal will co-host. Small gesture, large signal.
Key Takeaways
The Indian Embassy in Nepal hosted the second Indian Ambassador's Cricket Tournament from 26 to 28 June in Kathmandu .
The tournament expanded from 6 teams in its first edition to 8 teams in 2025, including Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic community.
The final was played between the Indian Embassy and ICAN (Indian Community in Nepal).
Ambassador Naveen Srivastava gifted professional cricket kits to three Nepali U-19 women cricketers — Sana Praveen , Krishma Gurung , and Sabitri Dhami .
The ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup , to be co-hosted by Nepal and Bangladesh , is scheduled for next year.
The Indian Embassy in Nepal hosted the second edition of the Indian Ambassador's Cricket Tournament from 26 to 28 June in Kathmandu, drawing together diplomats, government officials, media professionals, former cricketers, corporate representatives, and members of the Indian diaspora in a three-day sports diplomacy initiative. The event, concluded on 28 June, is part of a broader effort to strengthen people-to-people ties between India and Nepal through cricket.
Eight Teams, Three Days of Competition
The tournament featured eight teams representing a cross-section of both nations: the Indian Embassy in Nepal, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the diplomatic community in Kathmandu, Nepali media, former Nepali cricketers, Government of Nepal officials, corporate organisations, and the Indian Community in Nepal (ICAN). The final was contested between the Indian Embassy and ICAN.
Trophies and awards were presented by India's Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, along with representatives of the organising partners, to the winning team and standout performers.
Opening Ceremony and Senior Participation
The tournament's opening ceremony on 26 June was held in the presence of Ambassador Srivastava, Gahendra Rajbhandari, Joint Secretary of the South Asia Division at Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and senior diplomatic representatives from Kathmandu's international community. The high-level attendance underscored the event's diplomatic significance beyond sport.
Cricket Kits for Promising Women Cricketers
A reception on 29 June marked the tournament's successful close. On the occasion, Ambassador Srivastava presented professional-grade cricket kits to three promising Nepali Under-19 women cricketers — Sana Praveen, Krishma Gurung, and Sabitri Dhami — and extended his best wishes ahead of the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup scheduled for next year. The tournament is set to be jointly hosted by Nepal and Bangladesh.
The gesture signals India's intent to invest not just in diplomatic goodwill but in the grassroots development of women's cricket in Nepal — a country that has rapidly emerged as a competitive Associate cricket nation.
Growing from Six to Eight Teams
The first edition of the Indian Ambassador's Cricket Tournament was held in Kathmandu in June 2024, with six teams participating. The expansion to eight teams in the second edition reflects growing institutional interest from both government and corporate sectors in Nepal.
'This annual tournament celebrates the spirit of cricket — a sport that continues to bring the people of India and Nepal closer and strengthen the people-to-people ties between the two countries,' the Indian Embassy said in a statement. Notably, this comes at a time when India and Nepal are actively reinforcing bilateral engagement across culture, trade, and connectivity.
Sports Diplomacy as a Bilateral Tool
The Indian Embassy described the tournament as a reflection of India's commitment to deepening people-to-people ties with Nepal through sports diplomacy while supporting young sporting talent in the country. With the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup co-hosted by Nepal on the horizon, the timing of the cricket kit presentation adds a practical dimension to the diplomatic symbolism. The third edition of the tournament is expected in June 2026.
Point of View
Corporates, and media all at the crease — a sign that the Indian Embassy is deliberately broadening the tent. The cricket kit presentation to three U-19 women players is the more consequential detail: it ties India's soft power directly to Nepal's emerging women's cricket programme, and to a World Cup Nepal will co-host. India's bilateral tools in the neighbourhood are increasingly sport-shaped, and Nepal — given its rapid rise in Associate cricket — is a willing and strategically useful partner.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Indian Ambassador's Cricket Tournament in Nepal?
It is an annual cricket tournament organised by the Indian Embassy in Nepal in Kathmandu, designed to strengthen India-Nepal people-to-people ties through sports diplomacy. The second edition, held from 26 to 28 June 2025, featured eight teams drawn from diplomatic missions, government ministries, media, and the Indian diaspora.
Who participated in the 2025 Indian Ambassador's Cricket Tournament?
Eight teams participated: the Indian Embassy in Nepal, Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kathmandu diplomatic community, Nepali media, former Nepali cricketers, Government of Nepal officials, corporate organisations, and the Indian Community in Nepal (ICAN). The final was played between the Indian Embassy and ICAN.
Why did Ambassador Naveen Srivastava gift cricket kits to Nepali women cricketers?
Ambassador Srivastava presented professional-grade cricket kits to three Nepali Under-19 women cricketers — Sana Praveen, Krishma Gurung, and Sabitri Dhami — to support their development ahead of the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup, which Nepal is set to co-host with Bangladesh next year. The gesture reflects India's commitment to nurturing young sporting talent in Nepal.
How has the tournament grown since its first edition?
The first edition of the Indian Ambassador's Cricket Tournament was held in Kathmandu in June 2024 with six teams. The 2025 edition expanded to eight teams, reflecting greater participation from government and corporate sectors in Nepal.
When is the ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup that Nepal will co-host?
The ICC U-19 Women's T20 World Cup is scheduled for next year and is set to be jointly hosted by Nepal and Bangladesh. Ambassador Srivastava wished the three Nepali women cricketers success at the tournament during the post-event reception on 29 June.
