Lamichhane is a classical wrist-spinner in the Shane Warne mold—a bowler who names Warne as his childhood inspiration and built his game around control of leg breaks, googlies, and top-spin rather than raw pace off the pitch. His hallmark through his ODI and T20I career has been unusual tightness for a leg-spinner: he has repeatedly been Nepal's most disciplined attacking option in the middle overs, capable of buying wickets without leaking runs, which is why he holds several of the fastest-to-a-wicket-milestone records in ODI history. He is a modest lower-order batter and fields competently, but is picked purely for his bowling.

As a leader, he captained Nepal from December 2021 until his suspension in September 2023, and he currently captains the Biratnagar Kings in the NPL, though his leadership performances in that franchise role have had mixed results—Biratnagar finished sixth in the inaugural NPL 2024 season despite his star billing.

Lamichhane grew up playing tape-ball cricket before moving to Chitwan, where he trained at a cricket academy and was spotted at around age 14 by then-Nepal coach Pubudu Dassanayake. He represented Nepal at the 2016 Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, finishing as the country's leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in six games, including a hat-trick against Ireland's under-19 side. That tournament, plus a breakout stint at the 2016 Hong Kong T20 Blitz for Kowloon Cantons — where he impressed former Australia captain Michael Clarke — accelerated his path into senior and franchise cricket.

He made his List A debut on 16 April 2016 in the 2015–17 ICC World Cricket League Championship against Namibia and his first-class debut on 6 November 2019 for Nepal against the MCC. At the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Namibia, he was Player of the Tournament with 17 wickets in six matches, a performance that pushed Nepal into a World Cup Qualifier.

Lamichhane made an unusual T20I debut: representing an ICC "Rest of the World XI" side against the West Indies in the 2018 Hurricane Relief T20 Challenge at Lord's, making him the first cricketer to debut in T20Is for a combined/World XI team rather than his own country. His Nepal ODI debut followed on 1 August 2018 against the Netherlands, in Nepal's first-ever ODI match.

He has since become Nepal's all-time leading wicket-taker in both ODIs and T20Is. Key international milestones include: fastest bowler to 100 ODI wickets by matches (42), reached in April 2023; among the fastest to 150 ODI wickets by innings (73) and one of the second-fastest to 50 ODI wickets by innings (22); a career-best ODI bowling figure of 6/11 (some sources list 6/16), taken against the USA in February 2020; and selection for Nepal's squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, featuring in group matches including fixtures against Italy and the West Indies.

He was named captain of the Nepal national team in December 2021, replacing Gyanendra Malla, but was suspended from all national duties in September 2023 following his arrest. He has not been reinstated as captain since his return to the side.

Lamichhane has one of the most well-travelled T20 franchise résumés of any Associate-nation cricketer.

Indian Premier League (IPL): Signed by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in January 2018 for INR 20 lakh, becoming the first Nepalese player in IPL history. He played nine IPL matches in total, taking 13 wickets at an average of 22.46. He went unsold in the 2022 auction and has not featured in the IPL since.

Big Bash League (BBL): Signed by Melbourne Stars in 2018, the first Nepalese player in the BBL; he later also played for the Hobart Hurricanes.

Pakistan Super League (PSL): Played for Lahore Qalandars in 2018.

Caribbean Premier League (CPL): The first Nepalese player drafted into the CPL, taken by St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in 2018. He also represented the Jamaica Tallawahs, and won the CPL title with the Barbados Tridents in 2019.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL): Represented Sylhet Sixers in the 2018–19 season. He went unsold in the 2025–26 BPL draft but was subsequently signed directly by Rajshahi Warriors for the 2025–26 season — his second BPL stint.

Other T20 leagues: Nangarhar Leopards (Afghanistan Premier League), Montreal Tigers (Global T20 Canada), Toronto Nationals (GT20), and Dambulla Giants (Lanka Premier League, 2022).

Lamichhane has been the marquee player and captain of Biratnagar Kings since the NPL's inaugural 2024 season.

NPL 2024 (Season 1): Biratnagar finished sixth; Lamichhane played seven matches, taking 6 wickets — below expectations for a marquee bowler.

NPL 2025 (Season 2): He was one of three joint-leading wicket-takers in the tournament, with 17 wickets, level with Sher Malla (Lumbini Lions) and Abinash Bohara (Sudurpaschim Royals). Biratnagar again fell short of the title; Lumbini Lions won their maiden title, beating Sudurpaschim Royals in the final.

NPL 2026 (Season 3): Lamichhane was retained by Biratnagar Kings as their marquee player ahead of the July 2026 auction, continuing as captain. Live in-season figures list him with 10 wickets from 5 innings at an average of 10.30 partway through the season.

Nepal (international): Captained from December 2021 until suspension in September 2023; not reinstated as captain since return.

Biratnagar Kings (NPL): Marquee captain across three seasons (2024–2026).

2016 — Nepal U-19 World Cup breakout; List A debut for Nepal.

January 2018 — Bought by Delhi Daredevils for INR 20 lakh — first Nepalese player in IPL history.

March 2018 — First Nepalese player drafted into the CPL (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots).

31 May 2018 — T20I debut for the ICC World XI vs West Indies at Lord's — first cricketer ever to debut in T20Is for a combined team rather than his own country; makes his BBL debut later that year with Melbourne Stars.

August 2018 — ODI debut for Nepal vs Netherlands, Nepal's first-ever ODI.

2019 — Wins the CPL title with Barbados Tridents; first-class debut vs MCC.

February 2020 — First ODI five-wicket haul, vs the USA.

December 2021 — Appointed captain of the Nepal national team.

September 2022 — Rape complaint filed against him in Kathmandu; arrested on return to Nepal in October 2022.

April 2023 — Becomes fastest bowler to 100 ODI wickets by matches (42).

September 2023 — Arrest warrant issued; suspended by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

December 2023 / January 2024 — Convicted of rape by the Kathmandu District Court; sentenced to eight years' imprisonment.

May 2024 — Acquitted on appeal by the Patan High Court, citing insufficient evidence; CAN lifts his suspension; cleared to play the 2024 T20 World Cup.

2024 — Debuts as marquee player and captain of Biratnagar Kings in NPL Season 1.

2025 — Joint-leading wicket-taker (17) in NPL Season 2; signed by Rajshahi Warriors for BPL 2025–26.

January 2026 — Named in Nepal's squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

2026 — Retained by Biratnagar Kings for NPL Season 3.

Because this is one of the most-searched topics about Lamichhane, it is covered here factually and chronologically rather than glossed over.

In September 2022, an 18-year-old woman filed a police complaint in Kathmandu accusing Lamichhane of rape. He was in the West Indies playing CPL cricket at the time and was arrested at Kathmandu airport upon his return in October 2022.

He was released on bail in January 2023 while the case proceeded, though barred from travelling abroad without informing police.

In September 2023, an arrest warrant was issued and CAN suspended him from all national team duties.

The Kathmandu District Court found him guilty in December 2023, and on 10 January 2024 sentenced him to eight years in prison along with fines and compensation to the victim.

Lamichhane appealed. On 15 May 2024, the Patan High Court overturned the conviction and acquitted him, citing insufficient evidence. CAN lifted his suspension the same day, and he was subsequently cleared to join Nepal's squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Nepal's Government Attorney's Office subsequently recommended escalating the case to the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court's acquittal. Public reporting reviewed for this profile does not show a confirmed, final Supreme Court ruling on that appeal as of mid-2026. Readers should treat the case as having ended in an acquittal at the High Court level, with a Supreme Court appeal reported as recommended/pending — and should verify current status against a Nepali legal news source before publishing.