Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals Match Preview – NPL 2026 Match 4

Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals match preview for NPL 2026 Match 4: Wednesday’s only fixture, Pokhara’s season opener against the two-time runners-up at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on 28 October at 5:00 PM NST, with Sudurpaschim leading the head-to-head 2-0.

Match Details

Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals Match Preview: Wednesday’s Only Match

Pokhara open their Season 3 campaign in the only match of Wednesday, while Sudurpaschim play their second game of the opening week after Monday’s opener. A 5:00 PM start means the game begins in daylight and finishes under floodlights: sunset in Kirtipur on 28 October is about 5:23 PM, so the second half is a night game, and evening dew becomes a factor as the night wears on.

Two points go to the winner, and with only the top four of eight reaching the playoffs from seven league games each, an early win carries real weight. Sudurpaschim have won both previous meetings, but both were close, and Pokhara have strengthened since.

Pokhara Avengers Preview: Shakib’s Full Season

Captain Kushal Bhurtel leads seven retained players with Ajantha Mendis as coach. The 17-man squad has seven retained, six auction buys and four overseas signings: Shakib Al Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Mahedi Hasan and Dhananjaya Lakshan.

Shakib is with Pokhara for the full season, which changes the shape of this side: a proven all-rounder at the top of the order and through the middle overs. Pokhara finished fifth in Season 2 and seventh in Season 1, and they are still chasing a first playoff appearance and a first win over the Royals. A win over the two-time runners-up would be a statement start.

Sudurpaschim Royals Preview: Runners-Up Again?

Sudurpaschim arrive as the league’s most consistent team: runners-up in both seasons, with the most wins in league history (14). Captain Dipendra Singh Airee leads seven retained players with Misbah-ul-Haq as coach. The 16-man squad has seven retained, six auction buys and three overseas signings: Saif Ali Zaib, Brandon McMullen and Scott Kuggeleijn.

The opener was a batting failure: bowled out for 87 by Lumbini and beaten by seven wickets, with only Airee (27) passing 25. The bowling showed more fight, with Anil Kharel taking two wickets, including D’Arcy Short and Aasif Sheikh. The question is whether the batting recovers in two days, or whether the collapse carries over.

Key Battles: Three Duels

Shakib’s left-arm spin against Sudurpaschim’s top order comes first: Saif Ali Zaib and Binod Bhandari score quickly, and Shakib’s control through the middle overs is Pokhara’s biggest weapon. Second, Scott Kuggeleijn’s pace against Pokhara’s top order — an early strike under lights puts the batting side behind before dew arrives.

Third, the middle overs: Mahedi Hasan and Chamika Karunaratne against Airee and McMullen, with the game likely decided between overs seven and fifteen.

Players to Watch: NPL 2026 Match 4

Season 3 has barely begun, so these are names on verified status rather than form claims. Pokhara: Shakib (all-rounder, full season), Lakshan (all-rounder) and Bhurtel (captain, opener).

Sudurpaschim: Airee (27 in the opener, top score), McMullen (overseas all-rounder) and Kuggeleijn (overseas pace).

Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals Head-to-Head: 2-0

Two meetings, two Sudurpaschim wins — but both were close.

Venue and Conditions: TU Ground, Kirtipur

All 32 Season 3 matches are at the TU Ground in Kirtipur. The record book: Biratnagar’s 220 for 6 against Pokhara (18 November 2025) is the highest total, Janakpur’s 51 all out the lowest, Mark Watt’s 114 not out the highest individual score.

The 5:00 PM start makes this an evening game: sunset is about 5:23 PM, so the bulk of the match is under floodlights, and evening dew is a factor later on. The forecast for Kirtipur on Wednesday is a mostly cloudy day with a high of 27°C and a cloudy night with a low of 16°C, rain chance 10% at night, so no major interruption is expected.

Tactical Outlook: Chasing Under Lights

The tournament opener was won by the chasing side, and under lights the toss winner will think hard about bowling first: dew later in the evening makes defending a total harder. First-innings runs still set the game up, but the side batting second knows exactly what it needs.

The powerplay is the first battleground; the second is overs seven to fifteen, spin against Sudurpaschim’s experienced overseas middle order.

Expected Playing XI

Probable XIs, confirmed at the toss. See our predicted playing XIs.

The overseas question shapes both sides: Pokhara carry four overseas players, Shakib, Karunaratne, Mahedi and Lakshan, while Sudurpaschim carry three in the match-page squad, Zaib, McMullen and Kuggeleijn. Both captains must fit the overseas maximum of four per XI into their final lineups.

Where to Watch Live

In Nepal: Himalaya Sports TV. Elsewhere: NetTV (worldwide OTT rights; Nepal pass Rs 400, Middle East Rs 600, USA/Europe/Australia/Japan/Korea US$10). In India: FanCode Tour Pass (₹89), plus Star Sports Select 2/2 HD on TV in India and South Asia. Details in our live streaming; ball-by-ball scores free on the live scores.

Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals – Who will win?

4th Match · 28 Oct | Wed · 5:00 PM NPT. Back your team — one vote per device, and you can switch any time.

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