Lumbini Lions
Defending champions with Rohit Paudel leading a retained domestic spine.
NPL Teams 2026
Season 3 franchises, retained cores and auction status
Updated July 6, 2026 - auction live
Nepal Premier League 2026 is moving into Season 3 with the same eight city and province-based franchises. The retained-player window is complete, the July 6 auction is live, and teams are building around their domestic cores before the November tournament window.
The Nepal Premier League (NPL) is Nepal's main domestic T20 cricket league, organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal. It started in 2024 and has quickly become the main franchise platform for Nepali cricket, combining national-team regulars, emerging domestic players and overseas experience.
Lumbini Lions enter Season 3 as defending champions after winning the 2025 title, while Sudurpaschim Royals remain a major contender after another final run. The latest preparation phase has already reported 52 retained players across the eight franchises before the auction pool is completed.
The 2026 NPL is listed to run from November 17 to December 13, with all eight teams expected to play the round-robin league stage before the top four enter the playoffs.
8
Franchises in the Season 3 team list
52
Players retained before the auction
155
Shortlisted players in the auction pool
Nov 17
Listed opening date for NPL 2026
NPL Teams
Meet the eight teams preparing for Nepal Premier League Season 3. Each card links to the full team page; retained-player notes below reflect the latest pre-auction picture.
Sudurpaschim Royals
Finalists again and built around Dipendra Singh Airee's all-round leadership.
Biratnagar Kings
A power-heavy squad retaining Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam and Basir Ahamad.
Kathmandu Gorkhas
The capital side keeps Karan KC, Bhim Sharki, Shahab Alam and Rashid Khan.
Pokhara Avengers
Kushal Bhurtel returns as marquee, joined by Arjun Kumal and a young bowling group.
Karnali Yaks
Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha and Nandan Yadav keep the Yaks' national-team base intact.
Chitwan Rhinos
Kushal Malla remains marquee as Chitwan backs a seven-player retained group.
Janakpur Bolts
The inaugural champions reset after retaining only five players before the auction.
Season 3 Retained Players Snapshot
Before the July 6 auction, the eight franchises had reported 52 retained players. This is the clearest current team-building baseline; auction buys and final squads should be checked on the live tracker as results are confirmed.
Lumbini Lions
Rohit Kumar Paudel, Sher Malla, Dilip Nath, Sundeep Jora, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhisesh Gautam and Tilak Bhandari.
Sudurpaschim Royals
Dipendra Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Abinash Bohara, Hemant Dhami and Hikmat Mahara.
Biratnagar Kings
Sandeep Lamichhane, Lokesh Bam, Basir Ahamad, Narayan Joshi, Pratish GC and Subash Bhandari.
Kathmandu Gorkhas
Karan KC, Bhim Sharki, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Rashid Khan, Shahab Alam and Santosh Yadav.
Pokhara Avengers
Kushal Bhurtel, Arjun Kumal, Dinesh Kharel, Bipin Khatri, Aakash Chand and Kiran Thagunna.
Karnali Yaks
Sompal Kami, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Nandan Yadav, Deepak Dumre, Pawan Sarraf, Unish Bikram Singh Thakuri and Yuvraj Khatri.
Chitwan Rhinos
Kushal Malla, Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud, Kamal Singh Airee, Ranjeet Kumar, Deepak Bohara and Rijan Dhakal.
Janakpur Bolts
Anil Kumar Sah, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Mayan Yadav, Aadity Mahata and Bikash Aagri.
Auction status: The Season 3 auction tracker is live with a 155-player shortlist from 347 registered players. Follow NPL auction updates for sold players, unsold names, prices and final team squad movement.
Format and Schedule
The NPL 2026 uses a round-robin format where each team plays seven matches. Teams earn points based on wins and net run rates. The top four teams move to the playoffs:
- Qualifier 1: 1st vs 2nd place
- Eliminator: 3rd vs 4th place
- Qualifier 2: Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator
- Final: Winner of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Qualifier 2
The current site schedule lists the league window from November 17, 2026 to December 13, 2026. Individual fixtures, venues and timings should be checked on the NPL schedule page as the tournament approaches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are competing in the Nepal Premier League 2026?
There are eight teams, each representing different regions of Nepal.
Who are the defending champions?
Lumbini Lions are the defending champions after winning the 2025 season. Janakpur Bolts remain the inaugural 2024 champions.
When does the Nepal Premier League 2026 start and end?
The league starts on November 17, 2026, and ends on December 13, 2026.
What is the playoff format?
The playoffs include Qualifier 1, Eliminator, Qualifier 2, and the Final, allowing the top four teams to fight for the trophy.
Where can I follow the latest auction bids?
The July 6 auction is being tracked live. Check the auction tracker for the latest sold players, prices and unsold names instead of relying on an older static bid list.