Nepali players have made a historic start to the third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL 2026), claiming all six Player of the Match awards in the opening six games. The early dominance of local talent has marked a clear shift from previous seasons, when overseas players usually took the early awards.

In the second edition of the NPL, only one Nepali player won the Player of the Match award in the first eight games. This season, however, Nepali bowlers and all-rounders have consistently outshone a host of well-known foreign stars and delivered match-winning performances for their teams.

Bowlers Lead the Way

The opening match set the tone. Lumbini Lions spinner Sher Malla took 3 wickets for 11 runs in four overs against Sudurpaschim Royals. He dismissed West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford, New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn, and Nepal’s Binod Bhandari as Lumbini secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory.

The next day, Chitwan Rhinos’ medium pacer Kamal Singh Airee produced a match-winning spell of 4 for 26 in four overs against Biratnagar Kings. His victims included West Indies’ Andre Russell, former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, and Nepali batters Rupesh Singh and Basir Ahmad. Chitwan won a thrilling contest by eight runs.

In the third game, young Karnali Yaks spinner Yunish Bikram Thakuri took 3 for 22 in four overs against Janakpur Bolts. He removed New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham, captain Harmeet Singh, and Aditya Mahata as Karnali won by 19 runs.

Batting and All-Round Excellence

In the fourth match, Sudurpaschim Royals captain Dipendra Singh Airee became the first Nepali batter to score a half-century in this edition. He remained unbeaten on 51 off 36 balls (four fours and two sixes) while chasing a target of 146 against Pokhara Avengers. His 72-run partnership with Ishan Pandey proved decisive.

The fifth game saw 17-year-old Janakpur Bolts pacer Rahul Yadav shine on the big stage. Selected through a talent hunt, the young seamer took 4 for 31 in four overs against a strong Kathmandu Gorkhas side, helping restrict them to 115. He had already taken two wickets on debut earlier in the tournament and currently leads the wicket-takers’ list with six wickets from two matches. England all-rounder Moeen Ali later suggested Yadav could become Nepal’s version of Lasith Malinga.

The sixth match produced the most complete individual performance of the tournament so far. Karnali Yaks captain Sompal Kami delivered an all-round masterclass against Biratnagar Kings. He took four wickets — including Lokesh Bam (who scored 87), Andre Russell, Angelo Mathews, and Charith Asalanka — before returning with an unbeaten 62 off 32 balls (four fours and three sixes). Coming in at 57 for 5, Kami steadied the chase with key partnerships and guided Karnali to a four-wicket win.

After the match, Kami said the team’s victory mattered more to him than his personal numbers, describing the performance as a “blessed” moment in his career.

Early Tournament Trends

Bowlers have dominated the early stages of NPL 2026, with four of the six Player of the Match awards going to Nepali pacers and spinners. Of the five half-centuries scored so far, three belong to Nepali players — Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Biratnagar’s Lokesh Bam.

The strong start by home-grown players has been widely noted across Nepali media. While foreign stars remain key attractions in the league, the first six matches have shown that Nepali cricketers are ready to compete and win against them on the biggest domestic stage.

The third edition of the Nepal Premier League continues at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.