Nepal cricket has produced some genuinely exciting talents in recent years, but few have captivated fans and cricket analysts quite like Kushal Bhurtel. From a young boy in Butwal who dreamed of being a football goalkeeper, to Nepal’s most explosive opening batter rewriting T20 International history, Bhurtel’s journey is as inspiring as it is extraordinary. Whether you’re searching for Kushal Bhurtel’s religion, his fastest 50, his fastest 100, or his latest record-breaking feats, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know.
Who Is Kushal Bhurtel? — Early Life and Background
Kushal Bhurtel was born on 22 January 1997 in Butwal, Rupandehi, Nepal. Growing up in a cricket-loving family, as a child, Bhurtel actually wanted to become a goalkeeper in football, but turned to cricket because of his father’s wishes.
He was introduced to cricket at a young age, inspired by local legends and the vibrant cricket culture of Nepal. His early exposure to the game was crucial in shaping his skills as a cricketer, and he often played with friends in local alleys and school grounds, honing his batting and bowling techniques.
His perseverance paid off when he was selected to represent Nepal at the youth level, announcing himself as a future star of Nepali cricket.
Kushal Bhurtel Religion
Kushal Bhurtel is a Hindu, which aligns with the predominant religion practised in Nepal, where over 80% of the population follows Hinduism. Like many Nepali athletes, Bhurtel draws on the values of discipline, devotion, and perseverance rooted in his cultural and religious upbringing. His faith is considered an integral part of his personal identity, though he is known to keep his religious life private and separate from his cricketing career.
Kushal Bhurtel Personal Profile — Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kushal Bhurtel (कुशल भुर्तेल) |
| Date of Birth | 22 January 1997 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Birthplace | Butwal, Rupandehi, Nepal |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm leg break |
| Role | Opening batter |
| T20I Debut | 17 April 2021 vs Netherlands |
| ODI Debut | 7 September 2021 vs Papua New Guinea |
| Shirt Number | 14 |
| Domestic Team | Nepal Police Club / Pokhara Avengers |
Kushal Bhurtel International Debut — A Historic Beginning
Bhurtel made his international debut in a T20I fixture against the Netherlands on April 17th, 2021. He played a sublime knock of 62 and earned the Man of the Match award on his debut. With 278 runs in his debut tournament — 106 more than the next highest scorer — Bhurtel was an uncontroversial choice for Player of the Series.
What made his debut even more remarkable was what followed. In a remarkable start to his international career, he followed his debut half-century with half-centuries in his next two T20I innings — 61 not out against Malaysia and 62 against the Netherlands — becoming the first player in history to score three consecutive fifties in their initial three T20I matches.
This extraordinary record put the cricket world on notice: Nepal had found a genuine match-winner.
Kushal Bhurtel Fastest 50 — The Record That Started It All
One of the most searched topics around Kushal Bhurtel is his fastest T20I fifty. His explosive batting style has frequently brought him to the crease with a target in mind and a mindset to attack from ball one.
Bhurtel scored four half-centuries in his first five T20Is, which remains one of the most stunning starts to any batter’s international career. His ability to reach 50 at a rapid pace — regularly posting strike rates well above 130 — has made his half-centuries some of the most talked-about innings in Associate cricket.
In his last 10 T20Is, he scored over 387 runs at an average above 55, demonstrating not just speed but also consistency. His fastest T20I fifties have come against strong opposition, with particularly eye-catching knocks against Oman (69 runs) and UAE (92 runs).
Kushal Bhurtel T20I Batting Career Highlights
| Milestone | Achievement |
|---|---|
| T20I Debut | 17 April 2021 vs Netherlands |
| Debut Score | 62* (Man of the Match) |
| Consecutive 50s on Debut | First 3 T20I innings (World Record) |
| T20I Centuries | 1 (104* vs Philippines) |
| T20I Half-Centuries | 8+ |
| 1,000 T20I Runs | Reached in 2024 |
| T20I Runs (by late 2025) | Over 1,800 |
| T20I Strike Rate | 132.8+ |
| Best T20I Bowling | 4/19 vs South Africa (T20 World Cup) |
Kushal Bhurtel Fastest 100 — A Landmark Century
One of the defining moments in Kushal Bhurtel’s career was his maiden T20I century. Early in 2022, he recorded his first hundred in the format — an unbeaten 104 off 61 balls against the Philippines — becoming only the third Nepal batter to score a T20I hundred.
This wasn’t just another century; it was a statement about Bhurtel’s quality and his potential as one of Asia’s most dangerous top-order batters. The innings was characterised by powerful clean hitting through the off side, improvised scoops over fine leg, and the kind of decisive footwork against spin that separates good batters from great ones.
He became the first Nepalese player to score 1,000 T20I runs in 2024, reaching over 1,800 by late 2025 — a testament to his longevity and sustained excellence at the top of Nepal’s batting order.
In ODI cricket, Bhurtel was the fourth Nepal batter to record an ODI century and could have become the first from the country with multiple centuries in the format, but he fell for 99 against Zimbabwe in the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier — one of the most heartbreaking near-misses in Nepal cricket history.
Kushal Bhurtel New Record — Latest Achievements in 2025
Kushal Bhurtel has not slowed down in 2025. He continued to add to his growing list of records and achievements, solidifying his reputation as Nepal’s premier batting asset.
In the T20I series against the West Indies in September 2025, Bhurtel was named Player of the Series, finishing as the most successful bowler with 5 wickets as Nepal won the 3-match series 2–1. This dual contribution — contributing with both bat and ball at the highest level — underlines just how valuable Kushal Bhurtel has become to Nepal.
In a T20 World Cup game, he gave South Africa a scare with figures of 4 for 19, showing that even in the highest-pressure environments, Bhurtel delivers.
He scored 69 runs against Oman and 92 runs against UAE in 2025, both match-winning performances. He also helped lead his NPL team with smart strategies, earning praise for his leadership abilities.
Kushal Bhurtel ODI Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 67+ | 726+ | 115 | 25+ | 78.2 | 5 | 1 |
| T20I | 76+ | 1,800+ | 104* | 30+ | 132.8 | 8+ | 1 |
Kushal Bhurtel Career Records — A Record Setter From Day One
What separates Kushal Bhurtel from most cricketers is the sheer number of records he has broken or established since his very first international appearance. Here is a summary of some of his most notable records:
Kushal Bhurtel Key Records
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| First player in T20I history | To score half-centuries in first three T20I matches |
| First Nepalese batter | To score 1,000 T20I runs |
| Only third Nepal batter | To score a T20I century |
| Fourth Nepal batter | To score an ODI century |
| Notable bowling feat | 4/19 vs South Africa at T20 World Cup 2024 |
| Player of the Series | vs West Indies T20I series, 2025 |
| 2016 U-19 World Cup | Represented Nepal; team reached quarter-finals |
These records are not just statistics — they are milestones that have helped elevate Nepal’s standing in world cricket and inspire the next generation of Nepali cricketers.
Kushal Bhurtel Bowling — The Hidden Weapon
While the spotlight on Kushal Bhurtel rightly focuses on his batting, his bowling is often underestimated and has proven to be a crucial weapon for Nepal.
While Bhurtel makes the side on the strength of his batting alone, in recent times he has bowled more with decent returns.
In his T20I career, he has taken 31 wickets with an average of 16.35, conceding nearly 7.01 runs per over, with a best individual figure of 4 for 12.
His variations and control make him a genuine threat to batters, and in 2025 he recorded 4 wickets for 19 runs in a World Cup match, showing his all-round ability.
This combination of explosive batting, disciplined leg-break bowling, and sharp fielding makes Kushal Bhurtel one of the most complete cricketers in Associate cricket today.
Kushal Bhurtel at the ICC T20 World Cup
Kushal Bhurtel has represented Nepal on cricket’s biggest stage. He was a member of Nepal’s squad for both the 2024 and 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups.
At the 2024 T20 World Cup, he gave South Africa a scare with figures of 4 for 19, an outstanding bowling performance against one of the strongest batting line-ups in world cricket. While his batting didn’t fully fire in the 2024 edition, his bowling effort underlined why Nepal are a dangerous associate side capable of springing upsets.
His inclusion in the 2026 T20 World Cup squad confirms that at 29, Bhurtel is right in the prime of his cricketing life, with potentially his best years still ahead of him.
Kushal Bhurtel Domestic Career
Away from the international arena, Kushal Bhurtel has been a consistent performer in Nepal’s domestic circuit.
In Nepal’s domestic circuit, Bhurtel has primarily featured for the Nepal Police Club, with whom he contributed to their Prime Minister Cup title win in 2024 by scoring 14 runs off 9 balls in the final against Tribhuvan Army Club.
In January 2025, he helped Nepal Police Club secure the Jay Trophy title, contributing 51 runs in the first innings of the final against Tribhuvan Army Club.
He has also represented Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), further cementing his status as one of the country’s most bankable cricketers.
Kushal Bhurtel Domestic Teams Timeline
| Year | Team |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Panchakanya Tej |
| 2017–Present | Nepal Police Club |
| 2018–2021 | Lalitpur Patriots |
| 2022–23 | Lumbini All Stars |
| 2024–Present | Pokhara Avengers |
Kushal Bhurtel’s Impact on Nepal Cricket
Kushal Bhurtel’s significance to Nepal cricket extends well beyond numbers. He represents a new era for the sport in Nepal — one where the country can genuinely compete with full ICC members and occasionally produce performances that make the entire cricketing world take notice.
He was a vital part of the Nepal side that played the 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifier, scoring over 200 runs in six games.
His consistency, records, and professionalism have inspired a wave of young cricketers in Nepal to take the sport seriously. As Nepal continues its journey towards greater recognition in world cricket, Kushal Bhurtel remains its most important batting cornerstone.
For more on Nepal cricket and its rising stars, visit ICC’s official Nepal cricket page and ESPNcricinfo’s Nepal profile.
Summary
Kushal Bhurtel is, without question, one of the most exciting cricketers to emerge from Nepal — or indeed from any associate cricketing nation — in the last decade. Here is a quick summary of everything covered in this article:
- Kushal Bhurtel was born on 22 January 1997 in Butwal, Rupandehi, Nepal.
- Kushal Bhurtel’s religion is Hinduism, in keeping with Nepal’s majority faith.
- He became the first player in T20I history to score half-centuries in his opening three T20I innings.
- His Kushal Bhurtel fastest 50 achievements are built on a career strike rate of over 132 in T20Is, with multiple rapid half-centuries including explosive knocks of 69 and 92 in 2025.
- His Kushal Bhurtel fastest 100 — an unbeaten 104 off 61 balls against the Philippines in 2022 — made him only the third Nepal batter to reach this milestone in T20Is.
- Kushal Bhurtel’s new records include becoming the first Nepali batter to cross 1,000 T20I runs, earning Player of the Series against the West Indies in 2025, and taking 4/19 against South Africa at the T20 World Cup.
- He has represented Nepal at both the 2024 and 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cups.
Conclusion
Kushal Bhurtel is far more than just Nepal’s leading batter — he is a symbol of what Nepali cricket can aspire to achieve. His record-breaking debut, explosive stroke play, growing bowling craft, and unyielding ambition have all contributed to putting Nepal on the global cricket map. As he continues to add milestones to his already remarkable career, one thing is clear: the best chapters of the Kushal Bhurtel story are still being written. Cricket fans across Nepal and the world will be watching every time he walks out to open the batting, knowing that a moment of magic is never far away.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is Kushal Bhurtel’s religion?
A: Kushal Bhurtel’s religion is Hinduism. He was born and raised in Butwal, Nepal, where Hinduism is the predominant faith.
Q2. What is Kushal Bhurtel’s fastest 50 in T20Is?
A: Kushal Bhurtel is renowned for his rapid half-centuries in T20Is. He has scored at a career strike rate of over 132 in the T20I format and was the first batter in T20I history to score half-centuries in each of his first three matches.
Q3. What is Kushal Bhurtel’s fastest 100 in T20Is?
A: Kushal Bhurtel scored an unbeaten 104 off 61 balls against the Philippines in 2022, becoming only the third Nepali batter to score a T20I century.
Q4. What is Kushal Bhurtel’s most notable new record?
A: Among his most notable recent records, Bhurtel became the first Nepalese player to score 1,000 T20I runs in 2024, reaching over 1,800 by late 2025. He also won Player of the Series against the West Indies T20I series in 2025.
Q5. Has Kushal Bhurtel played in the ICC T20 World Cup?
A: Yes. Kushal Bhurtel has represented Nepal at both the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Q6. What is Kushal Bhurtel’s ODI highest score?
A: Kushal Bhurtel’s highest ODI score is 115, making him one of only four Nepal batters to have scored an ODI century.
Q7. What is Kushal Bhurtel’s bowling best figure?
A: In T20Is, his best bowling figures are 4 for 12, and he famously took 4 for 19 against South Africa at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Q8. Which domestic teams does Kushal Bhurtel play for?
A: Kushal Bhurtel primarily represents Nepal Police Club in domestic cricket and plays for Pokhara Avengers in the Nepal Premier League (NPL).
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