
Pre-match note
| Match | Sudurpaschim Royals vs Chitwan Rhinos |
| Tournament | NPL 2026 (Season 3) |
| Match | Match 11 |
| Date | November 02 |
| Time | 04:30 PM |
| Venue | Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| Teams | Sudurpaschim Royals, Chitwan Rhinos |
Sudurpaschim Royals enter this fixture with a deeper all-round squad. Dipendra Singh Airee gives them batting, bowling, and fielding value, while Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, and Binod Bhandari strengthen the batting group. Brandon McMullen and Scott Kuggeleijn add overseas flexibility, although their availability and exact roles are subject to the confirmed XI.
Chitwan Rhinos are built around captain Kushal Malla, their most influential all-rounder. Arjun Saud provides wicketkeeping and batting options, while Rijan Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee, Dev Khanal, Deepak Bohara, and Ranjeet Kumar form the local core. Ravi Bopara, Sikandar Raza, and Usama Mir are major selection variables; their inclusion could significantly change Chitwan’s balance.
The key battle is likely to be Kushal Malla against Sudurpaschim’s bowling attack in the middle overs. For Sudurpaschim, Dipendra Singh Airee’s ability to handle spin and accelerate after the powerplay could decide the direction of their innings.
Kirtipur is the confirmed venue. The surface has undergone a major rebuild ahead of NPL Season 3, so historical scoring patterns should be treated cautiously. Day-night conditions may assist bowlers who vary pace and use hard lengths, while dew could make chasing preferable if it appears.
Sudurpaschim won the most recent completed meeting between these teams, beating Chitwan by 49 runs at Kirtipur in NPL 2025 after posting 169/4 and bowling Chitwan out for 120. Chitwan, however, won their earlier NPL 2024 meeting, so the rivalry remains competitive.
No confirmed injury or availability update is available. Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, Binod Bhandari, Abinash Bohara, Hemant Dhami, and Hikmat Mahara are expected to be central to Sudurpaschim’s plans. The overseas combination involving Brandon McMullen and Scott Kuggeleijn remains subject to official confirmation.
Kushal Malla is expected to lead Chitwan’s all-round effort. Arjun Saud, Rijan Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee, Dev Khanal, Deepak Bohara, and Ranjeet Kumar are key local options. The availability of Ravi Bopara, Sikandar Raza, and Usama Mir should be checked in the official playing XI before finalizing fantasy teams.
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, is the confirmed venue for Match 11. The playing square has reportedly undergone a major rebuild ahead of NPL Season 3, so previous-season scoring trends should not be treated as definitive. Day-night conditions may offer something for bowlers who hit hard lengths and use variations, while dew could assist chasing teams if it develops.
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Pace Bowling
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Spin Bowling
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Batting Pitch
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Average Score
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Bowling Pitch
Expect a competitive surface rather than an automatically high-scoring one. Batters who rotate strike in the middle overs are likely to be more valuable than batters relying only on boundaries. Bowlers with powerplay or death-over roles should be prioritized in fantasy teams. The toss and actual pitch behavior on match day will be more important than historical venue data.
| Matches played | 2 |
| Won by Sudurpaschim Royals | 1 |
| Won by Chitwan Rhinos | 1 |
| Tied / No Results | — |
| First-ever fixture | December 8, 2024 (Chitwan Rhinos won) |
| Most recent fixture | December 4, 2025 (Sudurpaschim Royals won) |
Sudurpaschim Royals won the most recent meeting at Kirtipur in NPL 2025, scoring 169/4 and bowling Chitwan Rhinos out for 120. Chitwan won the previous meeting in NPL 2024, leaving the head-to-head record at 1-1.
Sudurpaschim Royals have a slight edge because their squad offers more all-round depth and more recognized batting options. Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Ishan Pandey, and Binod Bhandari give them a stable batting core, while McMullen and Kuggeleijn can add balance if selected.
Chitwan’s chances depend heavily on Kushal Malla and their top order. If Malla gets support and Chitwan handles Sudurpaschim’s bowling in the middle and death overs, they can certainly challenge. However, Sudurpaschim’s 49-run win over Chitwan at Kirtipur in NPL 2025 gives them a narrow analytical advantage.
The match could be decided in overs 11–15. Sudurpaschim will aim to accelerate through Airee and their finishers, while Chitwan needs wickets in that phase to prevent the Royals from building a challenging total.
Our prediction: Sudurpaschim Royals 50% – Chitwan Rhinos 50%.
Pick all-rounders first. Airee, Raza, Kuggeleijn, and Malla can score points with both bat and ball. Add top-four batters and bowlers who bowl in the powerplay or at the death. Check which overseas players are selected, because those roles can change a team’s balance. Keep one or two differential picks if you play in larger contests. Adjust the team after the toss.
Sudurpaschim Royals have a slight edge because of their 2025 league record, their settled core and Abinash Bohara’s wicket-taking. Chitwan Rhinos can still win if Malla, Raza, and Bopara all fire, so the prediction could change after the toss and the playing XIs.
Predicted winner: Sudurpaschim Royals
Win probability:

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.