KATHMANDU - Karan KC has become the first Nepal pacer and only the second Nepal bowler to complete 100 wickets in One-Day Internationals.
Karan reached the milestone during Nepal's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 match against Namibia at Sportpark Maarschalkerweerd, Utrecht, on Monday. He entered the match two wickets short of the landmark and completed it with his second wicket of the innings.
The 34-year-old dismissed Louren Steenkamp for 59, caught by Kushal Bhurtel, to complete the landmark. Karan had figures of 2/16 from eight overs when Namibia were 173/3 after 43 overs.
Karan made his ODI debut on August 1, 2018, against the Netherlands at VRA Cricket Ground, Amstelveen, in Nepal's first-ever ODI match. His first ODI wicket was Scott Edwards, who was trapped lbw for 18. Nepal lost that match by 55 runs, but the game marked the beginning of the country’s ODI journey.
Since then, Karan has remained Nepal's most important pace-bowling figure in the format. He has often taken the new ball, operated in the middle overs and returned at the death, becoming one of Nepal’s most trusted wicket-taking options.
His best ODI figures remain 5/33 against Oman at Choice Moosa Stadium, Pearland, in June 2022. Karan was named Player of the Match as Nepal bowled Oman out for 163 and chased the target by seven wickets.
The milestone adds another chapter to Karan’s long Nepal career, which had its defining pre-ODI moment in 2018. His unbeaten 42 off 31 balls against Canada in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two helped Nepal pull off a one-wicket win in Windhoek and reach the World Cup Qualifier, the tournament where Nepal later secured ODI status.
Karan has also contributed important lower-order runs in ODIs. His unbeaten 65 against Scotland in Dundee in 2025 helped Nepal complete a one-wicket win, again underlining his value beyond the ball.
With 100 ODI wickets, Karan joins Sandeep Lamichhane as Nepal's only bowlers to reach the landmark. Sandeep was the first Nepal bowler to get there, while Karan is now the first fast bowler from Nepal to do so.
