Debuting at the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sher Malla dismissed Phil Salt with his first ball in international cricket.
Sher Malla makes dream start in T20 World Cup
Nepal gave out an international cap to Malla ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against England. In the process, Malla became the 53rd male cricketer to play a T20I for Nepal.
Malla became the 141st man to make his T20I debut at a T20 World Cup, but only the eighth in this decade, when the format has become more structured.
Rohit Paudel gave Malla the second over after Karan KC conceded five off the first. Malla bowled on middle and leg, which Salt tried to slog over square-leg and mistimed, and Sandeep Lamichhane held the catch at fine leg.
This made Malla the second Nepal bowler to take a wicket with his first ball in men’s T20Is. His predecessor, the legendary Paras Khadka, who presented Malla with the Nepal cap before the match – had done this with Nepal’s first ball in international cricket – at the 2014 T20 World Cup.
Match 5, England vs Nepal
vs
- Ball by ball Over
Wicket with first ball in men’s T20Is for Nepal
| Bowler | Opposition | Batter | Venue | Year |
| Paras Khadka | Hong Kong | Irfan Ahmed | Chattogram | 2014 |
| Sher Malla | England | Phil Salt | Mumbai | 2026 |
Note: Khadka was not the first to take a wicket with his first ball in the T20I career in the Chattogram match: Nadeem Ahmed of Hong Kong had dismissed Subash Khakurel with his first ball as well.
Who is Sher Malla?
An off-spinner, Malla played for Nepal A in the U19 Challenger Trophy of 2019/20 that also featured India U19s A, B, and C. Against India U19s A, he trapped Dhruv Jurel leg-before.
He had an excellent run in the 2025 Nepal Premier League as the Lumbini Lions, after finishing fourth in the league, won all three playoffs to lift the title. Malla had 4-0-22-3 in the Eliminator, 4-0-31-1 in the Qualifier 2 (he bowled Faf du Plessis), and 4-0-18-3 in the final.
His 17 wickets at 13.76, the joint-most in the league, earned him the Emerging Player award.
