Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals match prediction for NPL 2026 Match 4: Pokhara’s season opener against the two-time runners-up at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Wednesday 28 October at 5:00 PM NST, with Sudurpaschim leading the head-to-head 2-0 and Pokhara chasing a first win in this fixture.
Match Details
| Match | Match 4, NPL Season 3 |
| Teams | Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals |
| Date | Wednesday, 28 October 2026 |
| Time | 5:00 PM NPT, 4:15 PM PKT, 4:45 PM IST |
| Venue | TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| Toss | To be announced |
| Watch live | NetTV (worldwide), Himalaya Sports TV (Nepal), Star Sports Select 2/2 HD (TV, India and South Asia), FanCode (India) |
Team Form
No Season 3 form exists for Pokhara yet, so form means last season plus the changes since. Pokhara finished fifth in Season 2 and seventh in Season 1, then strengthened: captain Kushal Bhurtel, coach Ajantha Mendis, and four overseas signings, Shakib Al Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Mahedi Hasan and Dhananjaya Lakshan, with Shakib committed for the full season.
Sudurpaschim have one game of form, and it was poor with the bat: bowled out for 87 by Lumbini in the opener and beaten by seven wickets, with only captain Dipendra Singh Airee (27) passing 25. The bowling showed more fight, with Anil Kharel taking two wickets. The Royals finished runners-up in both seasons and hold the league’s most wins (14), so one collapse does not erase the record — but a second one would start a pattern.
Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals Head-to-Head Record
Two meetings, two Sudurpaschim wins.
| Season 1 (15 Dec 2024) | Sudurpaschim 153/7, won by 5 runs |
| Season 2 (21 Nov 2025) | Sudurpaschim 193/7, Pokhara 175/8, won by 18 runs |
Sudurpaschim lead 2-0, but both wins were close, so Pokhara are no pushovers in this fixture.
Venue and Pitch Report
All 32 Season 3 matches are at TU Ground, Kirtipur, where the record book covers the full range: 220 for 6 by Biratnagar (highest), 51 all out by Janakpur (lowest), and 114 not out by Mark Watt. No dependable par score exists here, because the pitch has produced shootouts and collapses in the same week.
This one is different from a day game in one big way: it starts at 5:00 PM and finishes under floodlights, with sunset at about 5:23 PM. Evening dew later in the night game makes defending a total harder, so the toss and the first six overs carry more weight than they do in daylight.
Weather
The forecast for Kirtipur on Wednesday is a mostly cloudy day with a high of 27°C and a cloudy night with a low of 16°C, rain chance 10% at night, so no major interruption is expected. The match starts in daylight and finishes under floodlights.
Probable Playing XI
Both lineups are probable, not official: confirmed XIs come at the toss. Pokhara start all four of their overseas players; Sudurpaschim start three, with Sherfane Rutherford, who played the opener, absent from the match-page squad panel. The full reasoning is in our predicted playing XIs for Match 4.
Pokhara Avengers:
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kushal Bhurtel (c) | Batter |
| 2 | Arjun Kumal | Batter |
| 3 | Dinesh Kharel | Batter |
| 4 | Shakib Al Hasan (overseas) | All-rounder |
| 5 | Dhananjaya Lakshan (overseas) | All-rounder |
| 6 | Arjun Gharti | Wicketkeeper |
| 7 | Mahedi Hasan (overseas) | All-rounder |
| 8 | Chamika Karunaratne (overseas) | Bowling all-rounder |
| 9 | Sagar Dhakal | Bowler |
| 10 | Pratik Pokharel | Bowler |
| 11 | Sudip Aryal | Bowler |
Sudurpaschim Royals:
| # | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saif Ali Zaib (overseas) | All-rounder |
| 2 | Binod Bhandari | Wicketkeeper |
| 3 | Aarif Sheikh | Batter |
| 4 | Ishan Pandey | Batter |
| 5 | Hemant Dhami | Bowler |
| 6 | Dipendra Singh Airee (c) | All-rounder |
| 7 | Brandon McMullen (overseas) | All-rounder |
| 8 | Milan Bohara | Allrounder |
| 9 | Scott Kuggeleijn (overseas) | Bowling all-rounder |
| 10 | Abinash Bohara | Bowler |
| 11 | Anil Kharel | Bowler |
Key Players to Watch
Batters. Kushal Bhurtel (Pokhara): the captain and opener, leading a new-look side. Saif Ali Zaib (Sudurpaschim): the overseas opener, 13 in the first match. Dipendra Singh Airee (Sudurpaschim): the captain, 27 in the opener, his side’s top score.
Bowlers. Shakib Al Hasan (Pokhara): the overseas all-rounder, committed for the full season. Scott Kuggeleijn (Sudurpaschim): the overseas pace option. Anil Kharel (Sudurpaschim): two wickets in the opener, including Short and Aasif.
Fantasy Picks
Fantasy picks, not betting advice. Captain: Shakib Al Hasan, the overseas all-rounder who contributes with bat and ball across a full season. Vice-captain: Dipendra Singh Airee, who top-scored in the opener and captains the side.
Top picks: Shakib, Airee, McMullen, Zaib, Kuggeleijn, Bhurtel and Lakshan. Differentials: Mahedi Hasan with bat and ball and Anil Kharel with the new ball. Avoid loading up on one side’s middle order: this fixture is 2-0 for a reason, but both wins were close.
Toss Prediction
Expect the captain winning the toss to lean towards bowling first. This is a night game under lights with evening dew later on, and the tournament opener was won by the chasing side. The side batting first will want well past 170; the side chasing will back its depth and the dew.
Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals Match Prediction: Who Will Win?
Our pick is Sudurpaschim Royals, by a small margin, on weight of the head-to-head and the record: two wins from two meetings, runners-up in both seasons, and the league’s most wins (14).
The case for Pokhara is real, which is why confidence stays low: Shakib for the full season, a fresh campaign with nothing to lose, and a Sudurpaschim batting lineup that folded for 87 two days ago. If Shakib fires with bat and ball, this pick flips. Form, key battles and venue are in our match preview, and ball-by-ball coverage sits on the match page.
Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals – Who will win?
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FAQs
Who will win Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals today?
Our prediction is Sudurpaschim Royals by a narrow margin, based on their 2-0 head-to-head and runners-up record in both seasons. Confidence is low: Pokhara have Shakib for the full season, and Sudurpaschim folded for 87 in the opener.
Where can I watch Pokhara Avengers vs Sudurpaschim Royals live?
Himalaya Sports TV in Nepal, Star Sports Select 2 / Select 2 HD on TV in India and South Asia, NetTV worldwide, and FanCode in India.
What is the pitch report for TU Ground, Kirtipur?
The ground has produced the league’s highest total (220 for 6, by Biratnagar) and its lowest (51 all out), so no dependable par score exists. This is an evening game under floodlights, with evening dew a factor later on.
What time does the match start?
Wednesday, 28 October 2026, at 5:00 PM NST, 4:15 PM PKT, and 4:45 PM IST, at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
Conclusion
Sudurpaschim’s head-to-head and record make them narrow favourites, but Pokhara’s fresh start with Shakib says they are no underdogs. Expect a close evening game decided by the new ball, the middle overs, and whether dew arrives before the chase tightens.
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