‘He’s growing’ – Coach Monty Desai reflects on Rohit Paudel’s captaincy in T20 World Cup 2024 [Exclusive]

Rohit Paudel. (Photo Source: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

The T20 World Cup 2024 saw many teams from all over the world participate and put in their best efforts to get their hands on the title. One such side in the tournament was Nepal as they were drawn in Group D of the tournament with the likes of South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands. 

Playing four games in the tournament, Nepal lost three matches, with one producing no result. It is worth noting that Nepal was led by Rohit Paudel in the tournament, and the side’s head coach, Monty Desai, came forward to reflect on his leadership qualities. 

Desai opined that Rohit Paudel is in the process of growing as a leader; however, his resilience and patience as the skipper in the T20 World Cup were something that stood out for the head coach. 

“For me, this World Cup was just the way he handled the bowlers. He was up there, asking good questions by proactively deploying the right bowler against the skillsets which were more superior to us and I am saying that because they play a lot more cricket than us,” Monty Desai told Crictracker. 

“Even the Netherlands plays a lot more cricket than us. Fielding energy, the passion that he brings in is excellent. Again, it rubs off on others, and he is growing. He is still young, he’s growing. We wanted more results and as captain, he wanted more results, that has not happened, but we need to remain patient with that, the leadership also plays a role in long term vision, in that regard, Rohit Paudel is up there with anyone we talk about in international cricket right now” he added.

Despite not getting the desired results in the T20 World Cup, Nepal seems to trust Rohit Paudel to lead the side and nudge them in right direction. Just 22 years old, Paudel has already solidified himself as a top contender to lead the side, and he will hope to continue his run as skipper.