Kushal Bhurtel Lights Up Singapore with Back-to-Back T20I Centuries for Nepal

Nepal’s Kushal Bhurtel has delivered one of the most explosive batting performances in the country’s T20I history, scoring his second consecutive international century during the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Qualifiers in Singapore. The opening batter reached the landmark in just 44 balls against Malaysia, hammering seven sixes and ten fours in a blistering display of power and timing.

The innings came immediately after his century against China in the same tournament, underlining a remarkable purple patch for the 27-year-old. With this knock, Bhurtel has now collected his third career T20I century, a rare feat in the shortest format and a major milestone for Nepal cricket.

A record-breaking run for Nepal

Bhurtel’s latest hundred also pushed him to the top of Nepal’s all-time T20I run charts, making him the highest run-scorer for Nepal in T20 International cricket. That record adds another layer to what is already becoming a defining stretch in his career.

His consistency has stood out as much as his scoring rate. Bhurtel has not only been finding the boundary with ease, but also converting starts into match-defining innings, something Nepal has long needed from its top order.

Why this innings mattered

In T20 cricket, centuries are rare enough. Back-to-back hundreds are even more unusual, especially in an international qualifier with tournament pressure and qualification stakes. Bhurtel’s form has given Nepal exactly the kind of explosive opening presence that can change the shape of a game in a matter of overs.

The innings against Malaysia was particularly eye-catching because of the speed of the century. Reaching triple figures in 44 balls placed Bhurtel among the most aggressive scorers in the format, and his balance of power hitting and clean shot selection made the knock stand out even more.

Bhurtel’s growing place in Nepali cricket

Bhurtel has been a key figure for Nepal since making his international debut in 2021, and this latest achievement strengthens his status as one of the country’s most important white-ball batters. His recent performances suggest he is not just in form, but also entering a peak phase as a T20 specialist.

For Nepal, his rise is bigger than an individual success story. A reliable opening batter who can dominate powerplay overs and post match-changing scores gives the team a major competitive edge, especially in high-pressure tournament cricket.

With one tournament still in motion and Bhurtel in devastating touch, Nepal now has a genuine match-winner at the top of the order, and the rest of the cricketing world has been put on notice.