Lumbini Lions NPL 2026: Squad, Captain & Preview
Updated
The defending champions went from last in 2024 to the title in 2025, finishing fourth and then winning every knockout game. Captain Rohit Paudel, the NPL’s all-time top run-scorer, took a hat-trick in the final. Lumbini then paid the auction ceiling of Rs 20 lakh for Aasif Sheikh.
Lumbini Lions at a glance
| Captain | Rohit Paudel |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Tinu Yohannan |
| Home | Siddharthanagar (Lumbini) |
| Owner | Fortuna Health Care |
| 2024 | 8th in the league (2024) |
| 2025 | 4th in the league, champion (2025) |
Lumbini Lions squad 2026: key players
The domestic core: Rohit Paudel, Aasif Sheikh, Sher Malla, Dilip Nath, Tilak Bhandari, Dinesh Adhikari. Overseas: Niroshan Dickwella, Shamim Hossain and Shadley van Schalkwyk. The full Lumbini Lions squad, with roles and auction prices, is on the Lumbini Lions team page.
Players to watch
Paudel and Aasif Sheikh in the top order, and off-spinner Sher Malla, joint top wicket-taker in 2025. Each player page has a biography and live NPL 2026 stats.
Verdict
A settled Nepali core and a proven captain make Lumbini genuine contenders to become the first team to defend the title.
Follow Lumbini Lions live
- LL fixtures, results and squad
- What Lumbini Lions need to qualify: playoff chances updated after every match
- NPL 2026 points table and live scores
- All 8 squads, captains and coaches
FAQ
Who is the captain of Lumbini Lions in NPL 2026?
Rohit Paudel. The head coach is Tinu Yohannan.
Who are Lumbini Lions’s overseas players in 2026?
Niroshan Dickwella, Shamim Hossain and Shadley van Schalkwyk.
How did Lumbini Lions do in previous NPL seasons?
2024: 8th in the league. 2025: 4th in the league, champion.
Who owns Lumbini Lions?
Fortuna Health Care.
Stroke