Ishan Pandey Profile
All-Rounder
Left-handed batter, qualified medical doctor, and retained Sudurpaschim Royals core player across all three NPL seasons.
Ishan Pandey is a Nepalese left-handed batter, born on 2 March 1998, who plays for Sudurpaschim Royals in the Nepal Premier League 2026. A qualified medical doctor, he made his T20I debut in 2019, returned to international cricket in 2026, and scored a maiden ODI fifty (55) against Scotland in just his second appearance.
Career Highlights
Key numbers
Ishan Pandey is one of the more unusual stories in Nepali cricket: a qualified medical doctor who has balanced his MBBS training with a return to international cricket after a seven-year gap. A left-handed top-order batter, Pandey made his first mark in Nepal colors back in 2019, stepped away from the international game, and came back into the fold in 2026, making his ODI debut and scoring a fifty in just his second appearance. He is a regular for Sudurpaschim Royals in the Nepal Premier League, retained in all three seasons of the competition.
Player Profile
Cricket Career
Playing Style
Pandey is a left-handed batter who has played across the top and middle orders for both Nepal and Sudurpaschim Royals. His game is built on consistency rather than pure power-hitting — Nepali press coverage of his 2026 NPL retention credited him for showcasing consistency with the bat in domestic tournaments ahead of his international recall.
He offers useful right-arm off-spin as a support option, though he is not considered a frontline bowler at franchise or international level. What sets Pandey apart is his story off the field: he is a qualified medical doctor (MBBS, from Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences) who returned to the Nepal national side in 2026 after seven years away from international cricket.
Early Career
Pandey was born in Syangja, Nepal, on 2 March 1998. He came through Nepal's age-group system, representing the Nepal Under-19 team before making his senior international debut in 2019. He received part of his early cricket coaching in Haridwar, India, before building his domestic career in Nepal. Alongside his cricket development, he pursued medical studies at Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, eventually qualifying as a doctor (MBBS).
Domestic Career
Pandey has played domestic cricket in Nepal, including for Sudurpaschim Province sides, and has been a fixture in the Nepal Premier League for Sudurpaschim Royals since the tournament's first season in 2024.
International Career
Pandey made his T20I debut for Nepal against Zimbabwe in the Singapore Tri-Nation Series on 27 September 2019, playing a handful of matches (reported as four) before an extended absence from the national side. He also featured in the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup squad.
He returned to the Nepal set-up in 2026 after a seven-year gap, making his ODI debut against the United States on 16 May 2026 during the Nepal Tri-Nation Series, finishing unbeaten on 20. Two days later, on 18 May 2026, he scored his maiden international half-century — 55 off 61 balls — against Scotland at Kirtipur.
Franchise Career (Nepal Premier League)
Pandey's main franchise experience has come through the Nepal Premier League with Sudurpaschim Royals, where he has played all three seasons (2024, 2025, 2026) since the league's launch. He has not featured in overseas T20 franchise leagues to date.
He was part of the Royals squad that finished runners-up in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons and was retained as a core player for NPL Season 3 (2026).
Captaincy Record
There is no public record of Ishan Pandey captaining a franchise, provincial, or national side.
Career Timeline
- 2019 — T20I debut vs Zimbabwe (27 September); named in Nepal's 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup squad.
- 2020–2025 — Away from senior international setup; continued domestic cricket and completed medical training (MBBS).
- 2024 — Signed by Sudurpaschim Royals for inaugural NPL season; SPR finished runners-up.
- December 2024 — Top-scores with 35 off 28 in NPL 2024 group match vs Chitwan Rhinos.
- 2025 — Retained by Sudurpaschim Royals; SPR finish runners-up again.
- November 2025 — Scores 56 off 35 vs Janakpur Bolts, NPL career-best score.
- December 2025 — Scores 19 in the NPL final vs Lumbini Lions as Sudurpaschim Royals finish runners-up.
- May 2026 — ODI debut vs USA (16 May); maiden international fifty — 55 vs Scotland (18 May).
- June–July 2026 — Retained by Sudurpaschim Royals for NPL 2026 (Season 3).
Salary & Auction
Pandey has been a retained player for Sudurpaschim Royals in every NPL season, meaning he has not gone through the open bidding process. His individual retention fee has not been separately disclosed.
NPL Stats
Career Statistics
T20I Career
ODI Career
NPL combined totals (2024–2025): 204 runs off 168 balls in 12 matches at 22.67 average, strike rate 121.43, 22 fours and 5 sixes, highest 56; 6 wickets from 9 bowling appearances at 16.67 average, economy 8.22, best 2/11. Notable innings: 56 off 35 vs Janakpur Bolts (Nov 2025), 35 off 28 vs Chitwan Rhinos (Dec 2024), 19 in the 2025 NPL final. No Test or first-class statistics in verified public sources.
NPL Records & Achievements
- Retained by Sudurpaschim Royals in all three NPL seasons (2024, 2025, 2026)
- NPL career-best score of 56 vs Janakpur Bolts (November 2025)
- Reached two consecutive NPL finals with Sudurpaschim Royals (2024, 2025)
- Maiden ODI fifty — 55 vs Scotland (18 May 2026) in second ODI appearance
- Notable for combining professional cricket with a career as a qualified medical doctor
Latest News
May 2026
Made ODI debut against the United States, then scored maiden international half-century (55 off 61) against Scotland — first fifty in seven years since his 2019 T20I debut.
June 2026
Nepali media highlighted his international recall and consistent domestic form as reasons for retention by Sudurpaschim Royals ahead of NPL Season 3.
November–December 2026
NPL 2026 scheduled for 17 November–13 December 2026 at Kirtipur; Pandey will again turn out for Sudurpaschim Royals.