NPL 2026 Players to Watch: 12 Stars to Follow
Updated
Twelve players most likely to decide Season 3, six from Nepal and six from overseas. Tap a name for the full biography and live season stats; leaderboards are on the stats page.
Nepal’s stars
Rohit Paudel (Lumbini Lions)
The NPL’s all-time leading run-scorer (555) and Nepal’s highest ODI run-scorer. He captained Lumbini to the 2025 title and took a hat-trick in the final.
Sandeep Lamichhane (Biratnagar Kings)
Nepal’s ODI captain and best-known leg-spinner, with IPL, BBL and PSL experience. He shared the 2025 wickets lead with 17 and now captains Biratnagar.
Dipendra Singh Airee (Sudurpaschim Royals)
Nepal’s T20I captain hit a 9-ball fifty against Mongolia at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 and, in April 2024, six sixes in an over. He leads the two-time runners-up.
Kushal Malla (Chitwan Rhinos)
Scored a 34-ball T20I century against Mongolia in the same Hangzhou Asian Games match, at the time the fastest in the format. Now Chitwan’s captain at 22.
Aasif Sheikh (Lumbini Lions)
The most expensive buy of the 2026 auction (Rs 20 lakh), and the Nepal batter with the most ODI half-centuries.
Gulshan Jha (Karnali Yaks)
Debuted for Nepal at 15, the country’s youngest international. A hard-hitting all-rounder who can change a game in an over.
Overseas stars
Andre Russell (Biratnagar Kings)
Two-time T20 World Cup winner and one of the most destructive finishers in the game, still able to bowl above 140 km/h.
David Warner (Kathmandu Gorkhas)
Former Australia captain in white-ball cricket and one of the most prolific T20 openers ever; he gives Kathmandu a proven match-winner at the top.
Shakib Al Hasan (Pokhara Avengers)
Bangladesh’s great all-rounder and the leading wicket-taker in men’s T20 World Cup history.
Moeen Ali (Janakpur Bolts)
Won the 2019 World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup with England; off-spin and top-order hitting in one player.
Sikandar Raza (Chitwan Rhinos)
Zimbabwe’s star all-rounder and a T20 league regular whose off-spin suits the Kirtipur surface.
Harmeet Singh (Janakpur Bolts)
USA left-arm spinner who took 20 wickets in his first 14 NPL matches for Sudurpaschim. Now Janakpur’s captain.
Every foreign signing is in our overseas players guide; full squads are on the players page.
FAQ
Who are the best players in NPL 2026?
Nepal’s Rohit Paudel, Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee and Kushal Malla, plus overseas stars Andre Russell, David Warner, Shakib Al Hasan and Moeen Ali.
Who is the top run-scorer in NPL history?
Rohit Paudel, with 555 runs before the 2026 season.
Which team does Sandeep Lamichhane play for?
Biratnagar Kings, whom he captains in 2026.
Which team does Kushal Malla play for?
Chitwan Rhinos, as captain.