Anil Kharel is a Nepali bowler who joined Sudurpaschim Royals for NPL Season 3, bought for NPR 5 lakh at the July 2026 auction. He arrives with a story built in: in the first NPL match ever played, he took three wickets and scored 10 runs for Biratnagar Kings against the very club he now represents. The verified record lists his role simply as bowler, with no confirmed bowling style, and he was one of the club's two mid-tier signings.
In Nepal Premier League 2026, Kharel is the home-grown seam option behind the overseas spearheads. The Royals paid mid-tier money for his wickets, and he is expected to contribute rather than cover.
About Anil Kharel
Anil Kharel is a Nepali bowler the Royals bought for NPR 5 lakh at the July 2026 auction, one of the club's two mid-tier buys, and he arrives with a story built in: in the first NPL match ever played, he took three wickets and scored 10 for Biratnagar Kings against the very club he now represents. His verified role is listed simply as bowler, with no confirmed bowling style. Signed as a Category C domestic pick by Biratnagar for the inaugural 2024 season, he is the rare auction signing whose best-known NPL moment came at the Royals' expense. The Royals paid mid-tier money for prior NPL wickets, and he is expected to contribute, not just cover.
Playing style and strengths
The verified record gives Kharel's role as bowler and nothing more, no bowling style, no pace band, no spin type, so his method has to be read from the one public data point that matters: three wickets on NPL debut in the first match ever played. Debut hauls like that usually belong to bowlers who attack the stumps and force batters into decisions rather than waiting for mistakes. The 10 runs he scored in the same game hint at a lower-order batter who can hold a bat. His value to the group is defined by what he is not: not the new-ball leader, that is Kuggeleijn; not the death specialist, that is Bohara; not the teenage project, that is Dhami. That leaves the middle-overs holding role, containing, building pressure, and letting the strike bowlers hunt from the other end.
Anil Kharel's role at Sudurpaschim Royals in Season 3
For Season 3, the Royals bought Kharel to be usable depth rather than a net bowler. At 5 lakh, matching Milan Bohara as one of the two priciest domestic auction buys, he was priced like a player the franchise expects to select. In a pace group headed by Kuggeleijn and Bohara with Dhami as the developing third seamer, Kharel is the fourth domestic option who can step in for a niggle or a form dip without the XI losing its shape. There is also a narrative edge Airee can use: Kharel's three wickets came against the Royals in their first-ever match, so his new teammates have seen first-hand what he does to opposition batters, and now that damage works for them.
Player details
| Full name | Anil Kharel |
|---|---|
| Country | Nepal |
| Playing role | Bowler |
Anil Kharel at NPL 2026
Verified season-by-season NPL figures for Anil Kharel. Figures marked unavailable were not published in the verified record behind this page.
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | Wkts | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL 2024 (Season 1) | Biratnagar Kings | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2026 (Season 3) | Sudurpaschim Royals | Season not yet played | — | — | — | — | — |
Records & achievements
- Three wickets and 10 runs in the first NPL match ever played, for Biratnagar Kings against the Royals
- Bought by the Royals for NPR 5 lakh at the July 2026 auction, one of their two mid-tier buys
- Signed as a Category C domestic pick by Biratnagar for Season 1
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does Anil Kharel play for in NPL Season 3?
Sudurpaschim Royals, who bought him at the July 2026 auction for NPR 5 lakh.
What is Anil Kharel's playing role?
Bowler. Verified reports do not specify his bowling style beyond that.
What was Anil Kharel's auction price?
NPR 5 lakh, making him one of the Royals' two mid-tier auction buys.
Which NPL team did Anil Kharel play for before joining the Royals?
Biratnagar Kings, in the inaugural 2024 season as a Category C domestic pick.
Follow Sudurpaschim Royals
Sudurpaschim Royals squad lists every player and how each one joined the Season 3 side.
Sources and verification
Checked October 2026. Records describe the dated reports linked here; a signing does not guarantee selection or availability for every match.