Dawid Malan Returns to Chitwan Rhinos for NPL Season 3

England batter Dawid Malan has rejoined Chitwan Rhinos for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League, with the franchise confirming his return ahead of Tuesday's match against Biratnagar Kings at the TU Ground in Kirtipur.

Dawid Malan returns to Chitwan Rhinos

England batter Dawid Malan has rejoined Chitwan Rhinos for the third edition of the Nepal Premier League, the franchise confirmed on October 27, 2026. Chitwan director Pratap Devkota said the team had brought back the left-handed batter, known for his aggressive yet composed batting, ahead of the Rhinos' second match of the season.

Malan also represented Chitwan in the previous edition of the tournament, so his return is a reunion rather than a fresh introduction. The Rhinos finished fourth in the inaugural edition of the NPL before slipping to seventh in the second edition, and the franchise is counting on experienced international batting to drive a stronger campaign this time around.

The timing of the announcement matters. Chitwan face Biratnagar Kings at 12:30 pm on Tuesday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, and Malan rejoins the squad right as the season's early fixtures begin to shape the points table. The reports confirming his return do not state whether he will feature in Tuesday's playing eleven, so his first appearance of the season remains unconfirmed.

Dawid Malan international record

Malan is one of the most accomplished batters to appear in the NPL. He has scored centuries in all three international formats, a rare distinction that underlines his adaptability across the game. In Test cricket he has scored 1,074 runs with a highest score of 140, while in One Day Internationals he has 1,450 runs from 30 matches, again with a highest score of 140.

His Twenty20 International record is the one that made his reputation. Malan has scored 1,892 runs in 62 T20 Internationals with a highest score of 103, and he previously reached the top of the ICC T20 International batting rankings. He was also a key member of the England squad that won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2022.

Beyond his batting, Malan also bowls leg-spin, giving his captain an extra option if a partnership needs breaking. That dual skill set is part of why franchises value him in T20 leagues: he can anchor an innings at the top of the order and still contribute with the ball when the match situation demands it.

Dawid Malan role in the Chitwan Rhinos squad

Chitwan's squad already leans heavily on international experience. Ravi Bopara brings all-round pedigree, Sohail Tanvir is involved with the side as coach, and Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir was signed earlier in the season, as covered in Chitwan Rhinos' signing of Usama Mir. Malan's return adds a proven top-order batter to that group, easing the pressure on the Rhinos' young Nepali batters such as Dev Khanal.

Captain Kushal Malla leads a side that has promising local talent but needs runs at the top to compete with the league's strongest bowling attacks. Malan's ability to score quickly without taking excessive risks fits that need, particularly on the Kirtipur surface, where early wickets have already proved costly for batting sides this season.

The Rhinos' overseas mix also gives Malla flexibility in selection. With four overseas slots available in the playing eleven, the balance between Malan's batting, the spin options and the pace attack will be one of the team's key decisions as the schedule moves through its early double-headers.

Chitwan Rhinos Biratnagar Kings clash

Tuesday's opponents bring their own star power. Biratnagar's local core features Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Basir Ahmad and Pratis GC, while West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell and former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews add considerable experience. The two sides have split their two meetings across the first two editions, winning one match each.

Biratnagar won the first encounter by 51 runs, posting 181 before restricting Chitwan to 130. Chitwan returned the favour in the second edition, defending 175 and dismissing Biratnagar for 116. That shared history makes Tuesday's match an early test of which side has improved more since last season.

Chitwan reached the last four in the inaugural tournament, while Biratnagar qualified for the playoffs in the second edition, so both sides know what a deep run requires. Fans can follow every ball through the site's live scores page, with the result feeding straight into the early-season standings.