Nepal Premier League Season 3's auction reached a new phase on July 6, 2026, as Category C bidding got underway in Kathmandu, producing 17 confirmed signings across seven franchises. While the day lacked the marquee fireworks of top-tier bidding, it carried real weight for how NPL 2026 squads will actually function once the tournament starts.

Franchises spent the Category C session filling out domestic depth rather than chasing star power. Biratnagar Kings, Janakpur Bolts, Pokhara Avengers, Sudurpaschim Royals, Chitwan Rhinos, Lumbini Lions, Karnali Yaks and Kathmandu Gurkhas all made at least one addition from this band, with some teams returning to the pool multiple times. Two players, Sujan Thapaliya and Rit Gautam, drew bids above the standard Category C floor, a sign that certain names in this pool were seen as worth paying extra for even at the lower end of the auction structure.

Key Details

The confirmed Category C signings were:

Pokhara Avengers and Kathmandu Gurkhas were the most active buyers, each landing three players in this band. Chitwan Rhinos followed with three additions of their own, while Janakpur Bolts, Sudurpaschim Royals, Biratnagar Kings, Lumbini Lions, and Karnali Yaks rounded out the list with one or two signings apiece.

Category C is not simply a low-cost afterthought in the NPL auction system — it is the layer where franchises secure wicketkeeping cover, reserve batters, spin support and backup seamers. With 123 registered players in this category alone, out of 347 total registrations and 155 shortlisted names league-wide, it represented by far the largest talent pool in the auction. How a franchise navigates this stage often determines whether its squad has genuine tournament-length balance or simply a strong top layer with thin support underneath.

Janakpur Bolts' willingness to pay above base price for both Rit Gautam and Santosh Karki lines up with their position as the franchise holding the largest purse after retentions, giving them more freedom to invest early in domestic depth rather than waiting out the market. Kathmandu Gurkhas, by contrast, entered the auction with a tighter purse and used their three Category C picks at the minimum price to complete domestic slots without overcommitting financially elsewhere.

Chitwan Rhinos had already retained a settled core heading into the auction cycle, so their three Category C additions read as squad support rather than a rebuild — extra batting options, rotation bowlers for a congested schedule, and fielding depth. Pokhara Avengers' three signings suggest an effort to build local strength around their retained and marquee players, useful on Nepal Premier League surfaces where spin control and short bursts of boundary hitting often decide matches. Sudurpaschim Royals, Lumbini Lions and Karnali Yaks made smaller, targeted additions that still fit into each side's broader roster planning alongside overseas signings and retained players.

NPL 2026's Category C auction phase added 17 domestic players across seven franchises, led by Sujan Thapaliya and Rit Gautam at NPR 4.25 lakh. Though overshadowed by bigger-name bidding, these signings are set to shape squad depth and bench strength throughout the season.

👉 Full auction coverage: NPL Auction 2026: Sold & Unsold Players, Team Squads and Results