Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gurkhas Prediction, Fantasy Tips & Dream11 Team | NPL 2026 Match 5
Janakpur Bolts take on Kathmandu Gorkhas in Match 5 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 on Thursday, October 29, at 12:30 PM Nepal time at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The match will be played during the day, with no floodlights required.
This will be Kathmandu Gorkhas’ first match of the NPL 2026 season 3, while Janakpur Bolts will have already faced Karnali Yaks in Match 3 on October 27.
The two teams also met in the opening match of NPL 2025, when Kathmandu Gorkhas defeated the defending champions Janakpur Bolts by five wickets. Kathmandu went on to finish fourth in the tournament, while Janakpur had a disappointing campaign, finishing last with just one win from seven matches.
Janakpur have retained only five players for the 2026 season and have added four overseas players to their squad: Harmeet Singh, Jimmy Neesham, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Moeen Ali. Kathmandu, meanwhile, have strengthened their batting lineup with the signing of Australian star David Warner.
Pre-match note
Match Details
| Match | Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gurkhas |
| Tournament | NPL 2026 (Season 3) |
| Match | Match 5 |
| Date | October 29 |
| Time | 12:30 PM |
| Venue | Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| Teams | Janakpur Bolts, Kathmandu Gurkhas |
Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gurkhas:
Last season’s results give Kathmandu Gorkhas the edge on paper. They won five of their seven league matches and reached the Eliminator, while Janakpur Bolts managed just one win in seven games and finished eighth with a net run rate of -0.443. Janakpur’s only victory came against Chitwan Rhinos.
Both teams have made significant changes to their squads for NPL 2026. Janakpur no longer has Aasif Sheikh, who joined Lumbini Lions for NPR 20 lakh at the auction. Kathmandu, meanwhile, has added Australian batter David Warner, wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat, and Sri Lankan all-rounder Sahan Arachchige to their squad.
Their previous meeting offers some useful context, but both teams have changed since then. Kathmandu won the opening match of NPL 2025 by five wickets, with Ben Charlesworth scoring 46 off 23 balls and Milind Kumar taking three wickets for 15 runs. Aasif Sheikh top-scored for Janakpur with 54. With these players now representing different teams or no longer part of the same lineup, the rematch could develop differently.
Key matchups to watch
Kathmandu’s top order vs Janakpur’s spin attack: David Warner and KS Bharat could give Kathmandu a strong start in the powerplay. Janakpur has spin options in Lalit Rajbanshi, Harmeet Singh, Moeen Ali, and Iftikhar Ahmed, which could make the middle overs particularly interesting.
Janakpur’s overseas batters vs Kathmandu’s bowling attack: Jimmy Neesham, Moeen Ali, and Iftikhar Ahmed bring plenty of batting firepower. Kathmandu bowlers Shahab Alam and Karan KC could play important roles in restricting Janakpur during the middle and death overs.
Want to follow the match live? Check the Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gorkhas full scorecard for live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, toss details, and match updates.
Team News
Janakpur Bolts
Janakpur Bolts have added significant international experience to their squad for NPL 2026. American all-rounder Harmeet Singh will captain the side. He has taken 20 wickets and scored 161 runs in his previous 14 NPL matches.
Jimmy Neesham returns to Janakpur after helping the franchise win the 2024 title. He scored 247 runs during that campaign at a strike rate above 196, making him an important player to watch in the middle order.
Iftikhar Ahmed adds further batting and bowling options. The right-handed batter and off-spinner has scored 998 runs in T20 internationals. Moeen Ali, another left-handed batter and off-spinner, joined Janakpur on October 3 as their fourth overseas signing.
The domestic group includes wicketkeeper Anil Sah, Lalit Rajbanshi, Bikash Aagri, Mayan Yadav, and Aaditya Mahata. Shivnarine Chanderpaul will lead the team as head coach.
Kathmandu Gurkhas
Kathmandu Gorkhas will be led by Karan KC, with six players retained ahead of the new season. Their domestic options include Shahab Alam, Nepal leg-spinner Rashid Khan, Bhim Sharki, Santosh Yadav, and Mohammad Aadil Alam. Monty Desai continues as head coach.
David Warner is one of Kathmandu’s biggest additions. The 39-year-old Australian opener has scored more than 14,000 runs in T20 cricket and brings extensive international and franchise experience to the top order.
Wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat provides another option in the top order, while Sri Lankan all-rounder Sahan Arachchige adds flexibility to the batting and bowling combinations.
Kathmandu will hope their experienced overseas recruits can help them build on last season’s performance when they reach the Eliminator. Janakpur, meanwhile, will look to their new-look squad to improve on their eighth-place finish in 2025.
Kirtipur Pitch Report
There is no confirmed pitch report available specifically for the Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gorkhas match at this stage. Ahead of NPL 2026 and the U19 World Cup, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) undertook major work on the Kirtipur pitches, including planting fresh grass taken from within the 30-yard circle. A report published by Kantipur suggested that the wickets could retain grass for approximately the first two weeks before becoming flatter. Since Match 5 is scheduled for October 29, the surface could still offer some assistance to fast bowlers, although the actual conditions will need to be confirmed closer to match day. For comparison, the 28 league matches of NPL 2025 averaged approximately 154 runs in the first innings, based on our tally of the scorecards. Teams batting second won 15 of those matches, suggesting that chasing was a viable option last season. The match begins at 12:30 PM Nepal time, so floodlights will not be required. However, the daytime start alone does not determine whether batting first or chasing will be the better option.
50%
Pace Bowling
50%
Spin Bowling
50%
Batting Pitch
150 - 165 runs
Average Score
50%
Bowling Pitch
If the surface retains grass: Fast bowlers could get some assistance with the new ball, making early wickets an important factor.
If the pitch is flat: Batters may find it easier to play their shots, while spinners could become important during the middle overs.
Fantasy tip: Avoid selecting your entire team based on one expected pitch condition. Review the confirmed playing XIs, toss, and available pitch information before finalizing your team.
Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gurkhas: Head-to-Head NPL Record
| Matches played | 2 |
| Won by Janakpur Bolts | 1 |
| Won by Kathmandu Gurkhas | 1 |
| Tied / No Results | — |
| First-ever fixture | December 12, 2024 (Janakpur Bolts won by 5 wickets) |
| Most recent fixture | November 17, 2025 (Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 5 wickets) |
Janakpur Bolts vs Kathmandu Gurkhas Prediction
Kathmandu Gorkhas have a slight edge over Janakpur Bolts, having won five of their seven league matches in NPL 2025 and reaching the Eliminator. Their retained core offers some continuity, while Janakpur have rebuilt much of their squad after finishing last. However, Janakpur’s experienced overseas players, including Jimmy Neesham, Moeen Ali, and Iftikhar Ahmed, could make the difference. David Warner’s availability for Kathmandu remains a key factor to watch.
Our prediction: Janakpur Bolts 46% – Kathmandu Gurkhas 54%.
Fantasy Tips
Jimmy Neesham and Moeen Ali offer all-round fantasy potential for Janakpur, while David Warner (if confirmed in the XI) and KS Bharat are options from Kathmandu’s top order. Lalit Rajbanshi, Harmeet Singh, and Shahab Alam are worth considering for their wicket-taking potential. Harmeet could be a useful differential pick because of his all-round role. For higher-risk selections, consider Iftikhar Ahmed and Sahan Arachchige. Keep your team within your fantasy platform’s player limits and check the confirmed playing XIs and player roles before the toss.
Captain and Vice-Captain Picks
Captain: Harmeet Singh
Vice-Captain: Karan KC
Final Prediction
Kathmandu Gorkhas have a slight advantage because they performed better in 2025 and have kept more of their core players. Janakpur Bolts have made several squad changes but still have strong overseas players. Neesham is a good captain choice, Warner can be vice-captain if he plays, and Harmeet Singh is a useful differential pick. Warner’s availability could affect the prediction.
Predicted winner: Kathmandu Gurkhas
Win probability:
- Janakpur Bolts – 46%
- Kathmandu Gurkhas – 54%
NPL T20 Team
Written by the NPL T20 Team — cricket writers and editors covering the Nepal Premier League 2026. We share match reports, player profiles, points table updates, venue guides, and fantasy tips, verified through official and local sources.