Can Sudurpaschim Royals End Their NPL Title Drought in 2026?

Two finals. Two defeats. As NPL Season 3 approaches, the Sudurpaschim Royals remain the league's greatest nearly men — and this time they have a new head coach, a settled core and a point to prove.

Two Finals, Two Defeats: The Sudurpaschim Royals Record

The Sudurpaschim Royals have established themselves as one of the Nepal Premier League's strongest sides — and its most frustrated. In both editions of the tournament they have finished runners-up, falling short at the final hurdle after dominating the road that led there.

The numbers underline the consistency. In each of the first two seasons, the Royals won six of their seven league-stage matches to finish top of the standings, then booked their place in the final by winning the first qualifier, as reported by Online Khabar. Winning the league stage and winning the final, though, have proved to be two very different challenges.

The title has remained elusive. Sudurpaschim lost to the Janakpur Bolts in the inaugural edition before suffering another final defeat against the Lumbini Lions in the second season. As the third edition approaches, the question hanging over the franchise is whether it can finally turn consistency into a championship.

Misbah-ul-Haq: New Head Coach for NPL Season 3

For the new season, the Royals have turned to one of the most respected cricketing minds in the region. Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been appointed head coach, a move that immediately raised the franchise's stock among pre-season title contenders.

Misbah's appointment, announced ahead of Season 3, brings a tactically sharp presence to a dressing room that has twice watched the trophy slip away. His reputation for building composed, well-drilled sides will be tested against the pressure the Royals have felt on the biggest nights.

The franchise has already begun its preparations in Lucknow, India, where Online Khabar reports experienced Nepali coach Jagat Tamatta is part of the coaching setup supporting Misbah.

Sudurpaschim Royals Squad 2026: Retained Core and New Faces

Sudurpaschim has retained much of its core group, signalling confidence in the players who carried the franchise to two consecutive finals. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee leads the retained list, alongside experienced wicketkeeper-batter Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Hemant Dhami, Avinash Bohara and Hikmat Mahara.

Mahara joined the team as an iconic player through the franchise's talent hunt before making his NPL debut in the second edition, while the other six retained players have all represented Nepal at the national level, with Dipendra and Pandey currently part of the national setup. Through the same talent-hunt route, the franchise has selected Tek Raj Thalal as an iconic player for the third edition, Online Khabar reports — keeping alive the team's tradition of offering opportunities to players from its home region.

The Royals have also brought back several players released before the auction. Deepak Bohara, Milan Bohara and Tek Rawat were re-signed, while Anil Kharel, Sachin Bhatta and Ayub Chand were added to the squad. Aarif Sheikh was recently included in Nepal's squad for the 20th Asian Games, underlining the domestic quality in the group.

Three Overseas Signings: Zaib, Kuggeleijn and McMullen

The franchise has announced three overseas players so far — and all three are familiar faces. New Zealand quick Scott Kuggeleijn will represent Sudurpaschim for a third consecutive season after taking 17 wickets in the 2024 campaign. Scotland batting all-rounder Brandon McMullen also returns after featuring in the first two campaigns, while England's Saif Zaib is back after playing for Chitwan Rhinos in the second season.

Zaib's return is the headline act. The left-hander was named the best player of the inaugural edition after scoring 275 runs and taking 12 wickets across nine matches, and the Royals made him their first overseas signing of the window. "We are delighted to welcome Zaib back. He has already proven himself as a match-winner in Nepali conditions, and we expect a similar contribution this time," CEO Prakash Khadka said, adding that the club believes his role will be crucial in achieving the goal of winning a first title.

There are gaps to fill. Harmeet Singh has joined Janakpur Bolts as captain for the new season, and replacing his combination of spin bowling and lower-order batting will not be straightforward. Dipendra and the newly signed Anil Kharel provide domestic spin options, but with Naren Saud also released, the Royals may yet look overseas for another specialist spinner as they complete their recruitment.

Season Opener: Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals

The road to a first title begins with a rematch of last season's final. The Royals open their campaign on October 26 against defending champions Lumbini Lions at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur — the evening fixture of the tournament's opening day, starting at 5:00 PM Nepal time.

The full NPL 2026 schedule runs from October 26 to November 21, and every Royals match can be followed through ball-by-ball live scores on this site. For a franchise that has dominated two league stages without lifting the trophy, the opener offers an immediate chance to set a different tone.

Conclusion: Third Time Lucky for Sudurpaschim Royals?

Sudurpaschim have already shown they can dominate the league stage; winning six of seven matches in each of the first two editions and reaching both finals underlines their quality. But the final hurdle has proved difficult to overcome.

With Dipendra continuing as captain, a largely retained domestic core, three returning overseas players and Misbah-ul-Haq taking charge, the Royals will once again enter the competition among the title contenders — and with one of the league's biggest fan bases behind them. For a franchise that has come close twice, the third edition is another chance to turn consistency and regional support into a first NPL trophy.