Ishan Pandey is a Nepali batter who will represent Sudurpaschim Royals in NPL Season 3, retained as part of the club's domestic core. The left-hander made 2026 his breakout year for Nepal: an ODI debut against the USA at Kirtipur in May after a near-seven-year wait since his T20I debut, then two nineties, 90 against Jersey and 90 against Hong Kong in the ACC Premier Cup. He is a qualified medical doctor balancing medicine with international cricket.
In Nepal Premier League 2026, Pandey brings national-team form to a twice runners-up top order. His 147 runs at a strike rate of 103.52 in the reported Season 2 figures were the base; Season 3 is where he turns it into a defining campaign.
About Ishan Pandey
Ishan Pandey is a Nepali batter retained by Sudurpaschim Royals for Season 3, part of the domestic core behind two runners-up finishes. Born in Syangja in March 1998, the left-hander is also a qualified medical doctor balancing medicine with international cricket. His 2026 was a breakout year in national colours: an ODI debut against the USA at Kirtipur in May after a near-seven-year wait since his T20I debut, two nineties, 90 against Jersey in July and 90 against Hong Kong in the ACC Premier Cup in September, and a starring role alongside Airee in Nepal's record total at Kirtipur against the USA. His 147 runs at a strike rate of 103.52 in the reported Season 2 figures were the base he has now clearly outgrown.
Playing style and strengths
Pandey is the Royals' left-hand point of difference in a right-hand-heavy top order. The verified profile notes he is the lone left-hander in the likely top six, which gives Airee a natural matchup weapon against offspin and left-arm pace. His 2026 international form, twin nineties against Jersey and Hong Kong, shows a batter who builds innings through timing and placement rather than brute force, and the 12 fours against four sixes in his Season 2 split backs that up. His right-arm offbreak is the bonus skill: a part-time option that lets Airee sneak in an over against left-hand batters or rest the frontline spinners. The doctor's discipline shows in the method, organised, patient, and increasingly productive.
Ishan Pandey's role at Sudurpaschim Royals in Season 3
In Season 3 Pandey's left hand is a tactical asset Airee will use deliberately. With Bhandari, Sheikh and Airee himself all batting right-handed, Pandey at three or four breaks up the opposition's bowling plans and forces captains to rethink their spin matchups. His part-time offbreak adds a sixth-bowling option alongside Sheikh's medium pace, giving the Royals enviable all-round depth behind the three overseas all-rounders. The 2026 national-team breakout, ODI debut, two nineties, a record Kirtipur total, means he arrives in career-best form, and the Royals will expect his Season 3 returns to jump from the 147 of Season 2. If the left-hander fires, the Royals' top order becomes genuinely hard to plan against.
Player details
| Full name | Ishan Pandey |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 2 March 1998 |
| Birthplace | Syangja, Nepal |
| Country | Nepal |
| Playing role | Batter |
| Batting style | Left-hand bat |
| Bowling style | Right-arm offbreak |
Ishan Pandey at NPL 2026
Verified season-by-season NPL figures for Ishan Pandey. 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) | Sudurpaschim Royals | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2025 (Season 2) | Sudurpaschim Royals | 8 | 147 | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | — | — |
| NPL 2026 (Season 3) | Sudurpaschim Royals | Season not yet played | — | — | — | — | — |
Records & achievements
- 147 runs in the reported Season 2 figures at a strike rate of 103.52
- ODI debut for Nepal against the USA at Kirtipur in May 2026, nearly seven years after his T20I debut
- 90 against Jersey in July 2026 and 90 against Hong Kong in the ACC Premier Cup in September 2026
- Starring role alongside Airee in Nepal's record Kirtipur total against the USA in May 2026
- Qualified medical doctor balancing medicine with international cricket
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does Ishan Pandey play for in NPL Season 3?
Sudurpaschim Royals, who retained him ahead of the Season 3 auction.
What is Ishan Pandey's playing role?
Batter. He is a left-hand batter who bowls right-arm offbreak, and the lone left-hander in the Royals' likely top six.
How many runs did Ishan Pandey score in the reported NPL Season 2 figures?
147 runs from eight matches at a strike rate of 103.52, with 12 fours and four sixes.
How old is Ishan Pandey?
He was born on 2 March 1998 in Syangja, Nepal, making him 28 as of October 2026.
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.