Gyanendra Malla

A classical top-order batter, Gyanendra Malla has been one of the most recognisable faces in the Nepal side. A part of the set-up since 2006, he played a key role in the team's journey from division five to gaining ODI status in 2018.

So naturally, he featured in Nepal's debut limited-overs internationals, their first T20I in 2014 and their first ODI, in 2018, when he became the first batter from the side to score an ODI half-century.

He scored 210 runs in the Qualifier that took Nepal to their first T20 World Cup, in 2014. In that World Cup, he made 48 in the side's first T20I win, against Hong Kong.

In 2019, he became the team's full-time captain, leading the side for close to two years, with the bronze-medal finish in the 2019 South Asian Games being the highlight of his tenure.

He was sacked as captain in December 2021 following a contractual dispute with the board and was dropped subsequently. He made a comeback next year and scored 59 in his final T20I, against Kenya in August 2022.

Malla brought his 17-year playing career to an end in 2023, leaving behind an unmatched legacy. He then moved into coaching and was appointed the head coach of Nepal A.

Before his international career, Malla had been part of various age-group teams in Nepal and played two Under-19 World Cups, in 2006 and 2008. He was one of the core members of the squad that won the Plate final in 2006, when they beat South Africa in the semi-final and New Zealand in the final. Based on these performances, he was appointed vice-captain for the 2008 edition.