Santosh Yadav is a Nepalese all-rounder who will represent Kathmandu Gorkhas in NPL Season 3, retained before the July 6 auction. A left-hand batter and left-arm orthodox spinner born in 2006, he began his Gorkhas career as the franchise's most expensive Season 2 auction buy: NPR 10 lakh against a base of five at the August 2025 table. He justified a slice of that faith in the Season 2 Eliminator against Lumbini Lions, top-scoring with 23 from 17 balls in a knockout match.
In the Nepal Premier League 2026, Yadav is the rare domestic double: a left-arm spinning all-rounder who bats left-handed, a profile the retention decision shows Kathmandu refused to let re-enter the auction pool.
About Santosh Yadav
Santosh Yadav is a retained all-rounder who began his Gorkhas career as the franchise’s most expensive Season 2 auction buy: NPR 10 lakh against a base of five.
A left-hand batter and left-arm orthodox spinner born on 17 November 2006, he top-scored with 23 from 17 balls in the Season 2 Eliminator against Lumbini Lions and was retained before the Season 3 auction.
The 10-lakh fee at the August 2025 auction was the franchise’s costliest domestic Season 2 signing — a bidding war the Gorkhas chose to win for a teenage prospect. The Eliminator innings justified a slice of that faith: 23 from 17 balls, top score, in a knockout match against Lumbini Lions. Retention before the Season 3 auction, when the franchise could have let him re-enter the pool, confirmed the investment thesis: a left-arm spinning all-rounder who bats left-handed is the rarest domestic profile in the tournament.
Player details
| Full name | Santosh Yadav |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 November 2006 |
| Country | Nepal |
| Playing role | All-rounder |
| Batting style | Left-hand bat |
| Bowling style | Left-arm orthodox |
Playing style and strengths
Yadav is a left-hand batter and left-arm orthodox spinner — the two-skill package that makes him a genuine all-rounder rather than a bowler who bats. His left-arm spin is the primary weapon: on Kirtipur’s turning tracks, a spinner who drifts the ball in and turns it away from right-handers is the middle-overs controller every T20 side needs, and his action gives the captain a like-for-like alternative to Shahab Alam’s slow left-arm orthodox.
With the bat, he is a left-handed middle-order option — the 23 from 17 in last season’s Eliminator, top score in a knockout, shows a temperament for pressure rather than just talent. The left-hand bat and left-arm spin combination is tactically precious: it lets Karan KC create left-right batting pairs and left-arm spin contrasts without changing personnel. His Season 3 task is consistency — turning the Eliminator promise into a tournament-long contribution.
Santosh Yadav's role at Kathmandu Gorkhas in Season 3
He is the retained young all-rounder — the development bet the franchise doubled down on. After the NPR 10 lakh Season 2 fee, retention before the Season 3 auction was the second investment, and his role reflects it: first-change spin behind Shahab Alam, the senior left-armer, and a middle-order batting slot where his left-handedness breaks up the right-hand-heavy domestic core.
The spin pairing is the tactical heart of the Gorkhas at home: Shahab’s slow left-arm orthodox and Yadav’s left-arm orthodox, backed by Arachchige’s off-breaks, can bowl ten-plus overs of spin on a gripping Kirtipur surface. His batting position likely floats — up the order if an early wicket falls to a spinner, held back if the overseas top order of Warner and Bharat fires. The Eliminator top score is his selection argument; Season 3 is his chance to make the argument permanent.
Santosh Yadav at NPL 2026
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | Wkts | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Kathmandu Gorkhas | Season not yet played | |||||
| 2025 | Kathmandu Gorkhas | Not publicly available | |||||
Records & achievements
- Bought by Kathmandu for NPR 10 lakh against a base price of five at the August 2025 auction — the franchise’s costliest domestic Season 2 signing
- Top-scored with 23 from 17 balls in the Season 2 Eliminator against Lumbini Lions
- Retained before the Season 3 auction
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team does Santosh Yadav play for in NPL Season 3?
Santosh Yadav plays for Kathmandu Gorkhas — he was retained before the Season 3 auction.
What is Santosh Yadav’s playing role?
All-rounder: a left-hand batter and left-arm orthodox spinner.
When was Santosh Yadav born?
17 November 2006.
What did Kathmandu pay for Santosh Yadav at the Season 2 auction?
NPR 10 lakh at the August 2025 auction.
Follow Kathmandu Gorkhas
Kathmandu Gorkhas squad lists every player and their Season 3 recruitment status. Auction prices record the listed auction transaction only, not a career salary or a retained-player fee. Season 3 runs October 26 to November 21, 2026, with all Kathmandu home games at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
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