Kushal Malla (Nepali: कुशल मल्ल; born 5 March 2004) is a Nepalese cricketer who plays for the Nepal national cricket team. A left-handed batsman and left-arm off-spinner, he is known for his aggressive batting and held the record for the fastest century in men's Twenty20 International cricket.
| Full name | Kushal Malla |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 2004 |
| Nationality | Nepalese |
| Batting | Left-handed |
| Bowling | Left-arm off-spin |
| Role | Batting all-rounder |
Malla represents Nepal in international cricket. His batting is characterised by an attacking style, and he has been recognised in particular for his performances in the Twenty20 International format.
In the opening match of the cricket tournament at the 2022 Asian Games, played against Mongolia, Malla scored a century off just 34 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century in men's Twenty20 International cricket. The previous record of 35 balls had been jointly held by David Miller, Rohit Sharma and Sudesh Wickramasekara. Malla's mark was subsequently surpassed by Namibia's Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who reached his hundred in 33 balls.
Malla's record-breaking innings was a notable moment for Nepalese cricket, placing a Nepal player at the top of one of the format's most-followed individual records. The match also marked Nepal's participation in the inaugural inclusion of cricket at the Asian Games in this edition.