# Kushal Malla

Kushal Malla (Nepali: कुशल मल्ल pronounced; born 5 March 2004) is a Nepalese cricketer. He is a left-handed batsman, and a left-arm off-spinner. Known for his aggressive batting, he scored the fastest century in Twenty20 Internationals, off just 34 balls, in the opening match of the 2022 Asian Games against Mongolia, a record previously held by David Miller, Rohit Sharma and Sudesh Wickramasekara (35 balls), and later broken by Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (33 balls).

## Career

In September 2019, Malla was named in Nepal's squad for the 2019–20 Singapore Tri-Nation Series and the 2019–20 Oman Pentangular Series. He made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, in the Singapore Tri-Nation Series on 27 September 2019.
In January 2020, he was named in Nepal's One Day International (ODI) squad for the 2020 Nepal Tri-Nation Series. He made his ODI debut for Nepal, against the United States, on 8 February 2020. In the match he scored 50 runs from 51 balls, and at the age of 15 years and 340 days, he became the youngest male cricketer to score an international half-century.
In September 2020, he was one of eighteen cricketers to be awarded with a central contract by the Cricket Association of Nepal. In April 2021, in the final of the 2020–21 Nepal Tri-Nation Series, he made 50 not out, becoming the youngest cricketer to score a half-century in a T20I match.
In April 2023, Malla scored his first century in ODIs during a match against Oman. He scored the century in just 54 balls, the fastest by a Nepalese player. He is the fourth Nepalese player (after Paras Khadka, Kushal Bhurtel, and Dipendra Singh Airee) to score centuries in both T20Is and ODIs.
In September 2023, Malla scored the fastest century in T20Is off 34 balls, a record previously held by David Miller, Rohit Sharma and S Wickramasekara (35 balls). Malla set the record to score most runs in an innings in T20I without coming in as an opener.
In May 2024, he was named in Nepal's squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.

## Personal life

Malla attended New Horizon School in Butwal, Rupandehi from year 3, and currently attends Kshitiz International College on a full scholarship. He used to lived in Butwal 11 devinagar. Currently, he lives in Chandragiri with his father and mother. He is the only son of the family.

## Franchise cricket

* Desert Vipers (ILT20): Malla was signed by the Desert Vipers for the International League T20 (ILT20) in the United Arab Emirates. He joined the team to replace the injured Dutch all-rounder Bas de Leede.
* Team Abu Dhabi (T10 League): Malla has played for Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 League.
* Chitwan Rhinos (Nepal Premier League): As of the 2024 Nepal Premier League, Malla is the captain of the Chitwan Rhinos franchise.

## Records and Milestones
### ODIs

* 7th-youngest debutant (15 years 340 days)
* 8th-youngest player to score a century (19 years 47 days)

### T20Is

* Most runs in an innings at 3rd position - 137* against Mongolia at Hangzhou on 27 September 2023
* 5th-most runs in an innings - 137* against Mongolia at Hangzhou on 27 September 2023
* Joint 8th-most sixes in an innings - 12 sixes against Mongolia at Hangzhou on 27 September 2023
* Joint 10th-most runs from boundaries in an innings - 104 runs via boundaries against Mongolia at Hangzhou on 27 September 2023
* 9th-highest partnership for any wicket - 193 with Rohit Paudel against Mongolia at Hangzhou on 27 September 2023
* Highest Partnership for the 3rd wicket - 193 runs with Rohit Paudel against Mongolia at Hangzhou on 27 September 2023
* Second-highest partnership for the 5th wicket - 145 with Dipendra Singh Airee against Hong Kong at Mulpani on 21 October 2023