Lumbini LionsDinesh Adhikari is a Nepal all-rounder who will play for Lumbini Lions in NPL Season 3. The Achham all-rounder was retained in June 2026 without going near the auction. The reason is 13 balls long. Opening the chase in the 2025 final against Sudurpaschim Royals, he smashed 42 off 13 deliveries with five sixes and a four to kill a target of 86.
Adhikari is the Lions’ chaos agent: the player sent in when the game needs breaking open. His natural Season 3 home is as a floater, anywhere from one to seven, because 42 off 13 proved he needs no time to get going, a finisher in reserve for the Nepal Premier League 2026 title defence.
About Dinesh Adhikari
Dinesh Adhikari is the all-rounder who won the Lumbini Lions the 2025 final in 13 balls: opening the chase against Sudurpaschim Royals, he smashed 42 off 13 deliveries with five sixes and a four to kill a target of 86 before it could breathe. The right-handed batter and right-arm fast-medium bowler from Kamalbazar, Achham, born on 16 October 2004, represents Karnali Province in domestic cricket. Retained in June 2026 without an auction appearance, the 22-year-old is the squad's designated X-factor for the title defence — a player whose entire reputation now rests on one of the most violent innings in NPL history.
Player details
| Full name | Dinesh Adhikari |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 October 2004 |
| Birthplace | Kamalbazar, Achham, Nepal |
| Country | Nepal |
| Playing role | Batting all-rounder |
| Batting style | Right-hand bat |
| Bowling style | Right-arm fast-medium |
Playing style and strengths
Adhikari is a power-hitter first and everything else second: five sixes in 13 balls in a final is not a pattern you coach, it is a gift. His right-handed game is built on a strong base and clean leg-side striking, and his willingness to open the chase in the biggest match of the season marks a temperament that does not shrink.
His right-arm fast-medium is a genuine second skill — accurate enough for middle-overs duty when Rohit Paudel needs to rest the frontline quicks — but it is the batting that gets him picked. The open question for Season 3 is consistency: one 13-ball hurricane made him a champion, and the champions need to see whether the storm can be summoned more than once.
Dinesh Adhikari's role at Lumbini Lions in Season 3
Adhikari is the Lions' chaos agent: the player Paudel sends in when the game needs breaking open. He opened in the 2025 final, but his natural Season 3 home is as a floater — anywhere from one to seven depending on the match situation — because his 42 off 13 proved he does not need time to get going.
That flexibility lets the Lions keep their structured top order of Sheikh, Dickwella, Paudel and Jora intact while holding a finisher in reserve. His fast-medium also gives the attack a fourth seam option behind Trumpelmann, Mahato and Durgesh Gupta, useful on seamer-friendly surfaces. Retained without hesitation in June, he is the one player in the squad whose job description is simply to change games.
Dinesh Adhikari at NPL 2026
Season-by-season Nepal Premier League figures for Dinesh Adhikari.
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | Wkts | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL 2024 (Season 1) | Lumbini Lions | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2025 (Season 2) | Lumbini Lions | Not fully published (confirmed: played in the final) | Confirmed innings total not published beyond the final | 42 (final vs Sudurpaschim Royals) | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2026 (Season 3) | Lumbini Lions | Season not yet played | — | — | — | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NPL team does Dinesh Adhikari play for?
Dinesh Adhikari plays for the Lumbini Lions, the franchise he joined for the 2025 title-winning season.
What is Dinesh Adhikari’s playing role?
He is a batting all-rounder: a right-handed power-hitter who bowls right-arm fast-medium.
Was Dinesh Adhikari bought at the auction?
No — the Lions retained him in June 2026 after his match-winning 2025 final, so no auction price is attached to his name.
When was Dinesh Adhikari born?
Dinesh Adhikari was born on 16 October 2004 in Kamalbazar, Achham, Nepal.
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