NPL 2026 Playing XI
Every Nepal Premier League match this season gets a playing XI article of its own. Before the toss we publish the predicted XI for both teams (the eleven we expect each captain to name), with the thinking behind every pick, from the overseas balance to the bowling attack the TU Ground surface demands.
Season window: October 26–November 21, 2026 · Reviewed 24 October 2026
A playing XI for every match
Once the captains walk out for the toss, the confirmed lineups replace the guesswork: each match article is updated with the two official XIs as they are announced. One rule shapes every selection in Season 3 — a playing XI can contain a maximum of four overseas players, even though a squad may carry up to eight, so at least seven places in every side go to Nepali cricketers.
Each match article names a full eleven for both sides, openers to finishers, and explains the close calls: which overseas players make the cut, who bowls at the death, which batter anchors the chase, and which young Nepali players force their way in ahead of senior names.
Latest playing XI
Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals — Playing XI
Match 1 · Monday 26 October 2026, 5:00 PM NST · TU Ground, Kirtipur.
Probable XIs for both Season 2 finalists — and the selection calls that shape the opener.
Match centre: Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals, 1st Match
Match previews
Team news, form and head-to-head records for every fixture — the reading that sits behind each predicted XI.
NPL today match prediction
Our pick for every match, the players who decide it and the calls that could swing the result either way.
Watch every match live
NetTV streams all 32 matches worldwide, and Himalaya Sports shows the tournament on TV in Nepal.
Live scores
Ball-by-ball scores for every match, with the official playing XIs added as soon as the toss is done.
Full schedule
All 32 fixtures with dates and start times, from the 26 October opener to the 21 November final.
What “predicted” means on this page
A predicted XI is analysis, not the team sheet. We build it from the announced squads, the roles players fill, recent form and the conditions expected at Kirtipur, and we label it clearly as predicted or probable wherever it appears.
The confirmed XIs exist only when the captains name them at the toss. Every match article is updated at that point, and nothing on this site presents a predicted XI as confirmed before the toss has happened.
Building the eleven: what decides selection
Squad roles first
A T20 side needs two openers, a middle order that can rotate strike, a finisher, a wicketkeeper and at least five bowling options. Predicted XIs start from those roles, not from the biggest names.
The four-overseas limit
Only four overseas players can play, so every predicted XI has to choose which imports start and which sit out. Those calls (an extra seamer or a second spinner) often decide the match.
Form and availability
Recent form, fitness and arrival dates all move a selection. A player who lands in Kathmandu two days before the opener is a different pick from one who has trained with the squad all week.
TU Ground conditions
Every Season 3 match is at TU Ground, Kirtipur. Day games start at 12:30 PM and evening games at 5:00 PM, and the two slots ask different things of a bowling attack and a batting order.
Playing XI for all 32 NPL 2026 matches
The predicted XI for each fixture is published before the match and replaced by the confirmed lineups at the toss. Open a fixture for its match page, or check the status column for the latest XI article.
| Match | Date | Fixture | Start (NST) | Playing XI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon 26 Oct | Lumbini Lions vs Sudurpaschim Royals | 5:00 PM NST | Predicted XI live |
| 2 | Tue 27 Oct | Biratnagar Kings vs Chitwan Rhinos | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 3 | Tue 27 Oct | Karnali Yaks vs Janakpur Bolts | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 4 | Wed 28 Oct | Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 5 | Thu 29 Oct | Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gorkhas | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 6 | Thu 29 Oct | Karnali Yaks vs Biratnagar Kings | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 7 | Sat 31 Oct | Lumbini Lions vs Chitwan Rhinos | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 8 | Sat 31 Oct | Sudurpaschim Royals vs Biratnagar Kings | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 9 | Sun 1 Nov | Janakpur Bolts vs Pokhara Avengers | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 10 | Mon 2 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 11 | Mon 2 Nov | Sudurpaschim Royals vs Chitwan Rhinos | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 12 | Tue 3 Nov | Biratnagar Kings vs Janakpur Bolts | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 13 | Tue 3 Nov | Lumbini Lions vs Pokhara Avengers | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 14 | Thu 5 Nov | Lumbini Lions vs Janakpur Bolts | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 15 | Thu 5 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Biratnagar Kings | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 16 | Fri 6 Nov | Sudurpaschim Royals vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 17 | Fri 6 Nov | Chitwan Rhinos vs Pokhara Avengers | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 18 | Sat 7 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Lumbini Lions | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 19 | Mon 9 Nov | Pokhara Avengers vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 20 | Mon 9 Nov | Chitwan Rhinos vs Kathmandu Gorkhas | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 21 | Tue 10 Nov | Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 22 | Thu 12 Nov | Biratnagar Kings vs Pokhara Avengers | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 23 | Thu 12 Nov | Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 24 | Fri 13 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Sudurpaschim Royals | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 25 | Fri 13 Nov | Janakpur Bolts vs Chitwan Rhinos | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 26 | Sat 14 Nov | Biratnagar Kings vs Lumbini Lions | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 27 | Sun 15 Nov | Chitwan Rhinos vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 28 | Sun 15 Nov | Pokhara Avengers vs Kathmandu Gorkhas | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 29 | Tue 17 Nov | Qualifier 1: League 1st vs 2nd | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 30 | Wed 18 Nov | Eliminator: League 3rd vs 4th | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 31 | Thu 19 Nov | Qualifier 2: Loser of Q1 vs Winner of Eliminator | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
| 32 | Sat 21 Nov | Grand Finale | 5:00 PM NST | Playing XI before the match |
Playoff lineups depend on which teams qualify, so Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the Grand Finale link to the full schedule until the fixtures are set.
Frequently asked questions
When is a match's playing XI announced?
The confirmed playing XIs are announced at the toss, shortly before the first ball. Anything published before that point, including the predicted XIs on this page, is an expectation, not the official team sheet.
How many overseas players can be in an NPL playing XI?
A maximum of four. Season 3 squads can carry up to eight overseas players, but only four can be named in a playing XI, so at least seven places in every side belong to Nepali players.
Where do the predicted XIs come from?
They are editorial analysis. Each predicted XI is built from the announced squads, the roles players fill, recent form and the conditions at TU Ground, Kirtipur, then explained pick by pick in the match article.
Where can I watch the match?
NetTV streams every NPL 2026 match worldwide and Himalaya Sports shows the tournament on TV in Nepal. Prices and start times for your country are in the streaming guide.
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