Lumbini Lions lift NPL title

By Pramod Joshi.Kathmandu, Dec. 14: The second edition of the Nepal Premier League, branded as the Festival of Himalaya, concluded on Saturday with Lumbini Lions clinching their first-ever title after registering their sixth consecutive victory.

Lumbini defeated Sudurpaschim Royals by six wickets in the final match held at TU International Cricket Ground. Chasing a modest target of 86, the Lions won in just nine overs, losing four wickets.

For Dipendra Singh Airee’s Royals, it was heartbreak once again. After losing last season’s final to Janakpur Bolts, their hopes were dashed by Rohit Paudel’s Lions this time. Defending champions Janakpur endured a miserable campaign, crashing out in the league stage with just one win and finishing bottom of the table. In contrast, Lumbini, which had finished last in the inaugural edition, staged a remarkable turnaround to lift the trophy.

Their journey was far from smooth. After winning the opener, they lost three matches in a row and were staring at elimination. But they bounced back in style, stringing together six straight wins to complete a fairy-tale run.

Paudel’s pride

Captain Rohit Paudel called the triumph a dream come true. “From being one win and three losses down to lifting the title, it is a dream realised. This is a big achievement for Lumbini Lions. It was all about team effort and belief,” he said. “We executed our plans very well today. Restricting Sudurpaschim to 85 was beyond our expectations—we thought 140–150 would be realistic given their form. But our bowlers delivered brilliantly. Ruben, Sher Malla and I all chipped in. Everything clicked for us as a team,” Paudel added.

The victory was celebrated with fireworks and laser light. President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Sushila Karki congratulated the Lions on social media, while Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel presented the trophy, and prizes to the winners. 

Lumbini pocketed Rs. 11 million in prize money, while runners-up Sudurpaschim received Rs. 5.1 million. Biratnagar Kings earned Rs. 2.5 million for finishing third, and Kathmandu collected Rs. 1.5 million for fourth place.

Royals collapse

Opting to bat first after winning the toss backfired for Sudurpaschim, who folded for just 85 in 19.1 overs.

The Royals’ batting line-up crumbled against Lumbini’s pace attack. Ruben Trumpelmann, Paudel and Sher Malla shared nine wickets between them. Binod Bhandari fell for a duck in the first over, while Sheldon Jackson managed only one. Aarif Sheikh followed soon after, leaving the Royals reeling at 19/3.

They never recovered. Paudel’s hat-trick in the 11th over ripped through the middle order, while Malla dismissed the in-form Ishan Pandey for 33, the top score of the innings. Trumpelmann wrapped up the tail, finishing with three wickets as Sudurpaschim recorded the second-lowest total in NPL history.

Adhikari fireworks

Chasing a low score, Lumbini came out blazing. Dinesh Adhikari smashed four sixes off Airee in the opening over, collecting 27 runs. He and D’Arcy Short added 58 for the first wicket before both fell to Hemant Dhami.

Adhikari’s explosive 42 off 13 balls included one four and five sixes. Paudel (16) and Niroshan Dickwella guided the chase closer before Dilip Nath hit the winning run in the ninth over.

Paudel rides car

Namibian quick Trumpelmann was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series, finishing with 15 wickets in 10 matches. Among Nepali players, Paudel was adjudged Best Player. He received an electric car worth Rs. 6 million. Paudel ended with 276 runs and 10 wickets, second only to Pokhara Avengers’Adam Rossington (323 runs).  

He was also named best batter among Nepali players and was awarded with a bike. Sudurpaschim’s Bhandari finished third in the run charts with 264.

Biratnagar Kings’ captain Sandeep Lamichhane topped the wicket tally with 17 and won best bowler title. He also rode home a bike. 

Emerging Player Sher Malla also rode home a motorbike after taking 17  wickets across the season. Sudurpaschim’s Abhinash Bohora and Lumbini’s Tilakraj Bhandari was named energetic player of the tournament.

Message to the world

Prime Minister Karki hailed the NPL as a symbol of unity and peace.

 “This festival has united the nation and dispelled doubts about security. It has carried to the world the message that Nepal is peaceful, beautiful, and capable,” she wrote. The tournament injected over Rs. 1 billion into the economy through direct and indirect transactions, offering relief after months of political instability following deadly Gen Z protests.

TU Ground transformed

With a TU Ground transformed into a proper stadium with flood light installed, the cricket fans flocked to the Kirtipur to watch day-night cricket from day one, with tickets being sold out in almost every match. 

Just a year ago, the first edition of NPL was played on the ground with no proper parapet and flood lights. In under 11 months, TU Ground has been transformed into a proper stadium with permanent parapets, floodlights, upgraded broadcast facilities and controlled entry points. The venue now can accommodate 10,000 spectators.