NPL Nepal: Complete Guide to the Nepal Premier League
The Nepal Premier League is now three seasons old, and the third season starts on 26 October 2026. If you missed the first two, or you follow Nepali cricket only when the national team plays, this guide covers what you need: how the league works, who plays in it, who has won it, and what has changed for Season 3.
For dates and match times, see the full NPL schedule.
What is the NPL in Nepal?
The NPL is a franchise Twenty20 league run by the Cricket Association of Nepal. Eight teams, each tied to a city or province, compete every year in a round-robin stage followed by playoffs. Every match so far has been played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Siddhartha Bank has been the title sponsor.
Teams build their squads through retentions and an auction for Nepali players, then add overseas signings on top. That mix is why you see names like Shikhar Dhawan, Faf du Plessis and Chris Lynn in Nepali colours.
NPL seasons at a glance
Season | Dates | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|
1 (2024) | 30 Nov – 21 Dec 2024 | Janakpur Bolts | Sudurpaschim Royals |
2 (2025) | 17 Nov – 13 Dec 2025 | Lumbini Lions | Sudurpaschim Royals |
3 (2026) | 26 Oct – 21 Nov 2026 | To be decided | To be decided |
Both completed seasons had 32 matches. Sudurpaschim reached the final twice and lost twice.
NPL teams: the eight franchises
Team | Titles | Season 2 result | Selected Season 3 signings |
|---|---|---|---|
Biratnagar Kings | 0 | Lost Qualifier 2 | — |
Chitwan Rhinos | 0 | Missed playoffs | Sikandar Raza |
Janakpur Bolts | 1 (2024) | Missed playoffs | Jimmy Neesham (returns) |
Karnali Yaks | 0 | Missed playoffs | — |
Kathmandu Gorkhas | 0 | Lost Eliminator | David Warner, KS Bharat |
Lumbini Lions | 1 (2025) | Champions | Aasif Sheikh (auction) |
Pokhara Avengers | 0 | Missed playoffs | Shakib Al Hasan, Dhananjaya Lakshan; Ajantha Mendis as head coach |
Sudurpaschim Royals | 0 | Runners-up | Scott Kuggeleijn |
This is a selection, not a full list. A dash means we found no confirmed overseas signing, not that the team has none. Squads are still moving before the opening match.
How NPL cricket works
It's a Twenty20 league. The eight teams play a single round-robin, so each side gets seven matches, and the league stage has 28 in total. A win earns two points. The top four go into the playoffs: Qualifier 1 (first vs second), the Eliminator (third vs fourth), Qualifier 2, and the final.
Finishing in the top two gives a team two chances to reach the final. Third and fourth place get one. In Season 2, Lumbini Lions reached the final after finishing fourth in the league stage.
Season 1 and Season 2 in short
The first season ended on 21 December 2024, when Janakpur Bolts beat Sudurpaschim Royals by five wickets in front of a crowd of about 14,000.
Season 2 ended with a lopsided final. Sudurpaschim were bowled out for 85 on 13 December 2025, and Lumbini Lions chased the target in nine overs. Captain Rohit Paudel took a hat-trick in that innings. Ruben Trumpelmann was named player of the series.
NPL records so far
Records below are through the end of Season 2.
Most runs in NPL history: Rohit Paudel, 555
Most wickets in NPL history: Scott Kuggeleijn, 27
Most runs in Season 2: Adam Rossington (Pokhara Avengers), 323
Most wickets in Season 2: Sandeep Lamichhane, Sher Malla and Abinash Bohara, 17 each
NPL Season 3 (2026): what's new
The eight franchises retained 52 players before the auction on 6 July in Kathmandu, and 155 players were shortlisted for it. The headline buy was Aasif Sheikh, who was released by Janakpur Bolts. Lumbini Lions signed him for NPR 20 lakh, the highest price of the auction, after a lucky draw between teams that had all bid the maximum. Lumbini also kept Rohit Paudel as their marquee player and captain.
The overseas list is the bigger story. Pokhara Avengers signed Shakib Al Hasan in July, and Kathmandu Gorkhas announced David Warner on 15 September. Chitwan Rhinos have signed Sikandar Raza, Jimmy Neesham is back with Janakpur Bolts, and Scott Kuggeleijn will play a third season for Sudurpaschim.
The league has also sold its media rights differently this year. Himalaya Television has the TV rights in Nepal, NetTV has the worldwide streaming rights, and eSewa handles ticketing. Ticket prices and sale dates hadn't been announced when this was written.
Frequently asked questions
What is NPL Nepal?
It is the Nepal Premier League, a franchise T20 cricket league organised by the Cricket Association of Nepal, first played in 2024.
Which team has won the most NPL titles?
No team has won more than one. Janakpur Bolts won in 2024, and Lumbini Lions won in 2025.
How many teams play in the NPL?
Eight.
Who scored the most runs in the NPL?
Rohit Paudel, with 555 runs through the end of Season 2.
Who has taken the most wickets in the NPL?
Scott Kuggeleijn, with 27 through the end of Season 2.
Who organises the NPL?
The Cricket Association of Nepal.