NPL Season 3: teams, format, match times and where to watch
Eight teams, 32 matches at Kirtipur, DRS for the first time and official T20 status. Everything you need for the third Nepal Premier League, 26 October to 21 November.
The third season of the Nepal Premier League runs from 26 October to 21 November 2026. All 32 matches are at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, where about 2,000 extra seats have been added. Lumbini Lions are the defending champions, having beaten Sudurpaschim Royals in last season's final. Janakpur Bolts won the first edition.
See every match and result on our NPL 2026 fixtures page.
Format
- 8 teams play each other once: 28 league matches.
- The top four go to the playoffs: Qualifier 1, the Eliminator, Qualifier 2 and the final.
- Final: 21 November.
Match times (Nepal time)
- Two-match days: 12:30 pm and 5:00 pm.
- One-match days: 5:00 pm.
The evening start moved from 4:30 to 5:00 pm in a revised schedule announced on 20 October, to allow time for DRS.
What's new this season
- DRS for the first time. Ball tracking for LBWs, sound and other technology for edges, and video for run-outs, stumpings and no-balls. Each team gets two unsuccessful reviews per innings.
- Official T20 status. Runs and wickets this season count in players' official T20 records. Earlier seasons don't.
- Bigger prize money: Rs 1.5 crore for the winner (up from Rs 1.1 crore), Rs 80 lakh for the runner-up, Rs 40 lakh for third and Rs 30 lakh for fourth.
Teams, captains and coaches
| Team | Captain | Head coach | 2025 finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biratnagar Kings | Sandeep Lamichhane | Dhammika Prasad | 3rd |
| Chitwan Rhinos | Kushal Malla | Sohail Tanvir | 7th |
| Janakpur Bolts | Harmeet Singh | Shivnarine Chanderpaul | 8th |
| Karnali Yaks | Sompal Kami | Gyanendra Malla | 6th |
| Kathmandu Gorkhas | Karan KC | Monty Desai | 4th |
| Lumbini Lions | Rohit Paudel | Tinu Yohannan | Champions |
| Pokhara Avengers | Kushal Bhurtel | Ajantha Mendis | 5th |
| Sudurpaschim Royals | Dipendra Singh Airee | Misbah-ul-Haq | Runners-up |
Overseas names to watch
David Warner (Kathmandu Gorkhas), Andre Russell (Biratnagar Kings), Shakib Al Hasan (Pokhara Avengers), David Miller (Karnali Yaks), and Moeen Ali and James Neesham (Janakpur Bolts).
Each playing XI must include at least seven Nepali players and no more than four from overseas.
At the player auction on 6 July, the most expensive buy was Aasif Sheikh, who went to Lumbini Lions for Rs 20 lakh.
Where to watch
- In Nepal: Himalaya Television on TV, and the NetTV app.
- In India: FanCode.
- Elsewhere: the NetTV app.
