NPL 2026 Squads, Captains & Coaches: All 8 Teams
Updated
Each of the eight franchises carries a squad of 16 to 17 players for Season 3: up to seven retained players, buys from the 6 July auction, and overseas signings. Full, always-current squad lists with every player’s role and price are on the NPL 2026 players page; below is the quick guide to who leads each side.
Captains and head coaches
Seven of the eight captains are Nepal internationals. The exception is Harmeet Singh, the USA left-arm spinner who played the first two seasons for Sudurpaschim before Janakpur made him captain in August 2026.
How the squads were built
Teams could retain up to seven players before the auction; 52 were kept across the league. The 6 July 2026 auction in Kathmandu then had 155 players in the pool, and 37 were sold. The domestic quota rose to 14 players per squad. The most expensive buy was wicketkeeper-batter Aasif Sheikh, who joined Lumbini Lions at the Rs 20 lakh ceiling.
Team-by-team key players
- Biratnagar Kings: Lamichhane leads a spin attack with Basir Ahamad and Subash Bhandari; Andre Russell and Charith Asalanka add power, with Lokesh Bam behind the stumps.
- Chitwan Rhinos: built around Kushal Malla, Kamal Singh Airee and Dev Khanal, with Sikandar Raza and leg-spinner Usama Mir overseas.
- Janakpur Bolts: 2024 champions with Lalit Rajbanshi, Anil Sah and an all-rounder-heavy overseas group of Moeen Ali and Jimmy Neesham.
- Karnali Yaks: captain Sompal Kami, teenage all-rounder Gulshan Jha and Nandan Yadav; David Miller is the headline overseas name.
- Kathmandu Gorkhas: Karan KC, hat-trick hero Shahab Alam, Mohammad Aadil Alam and Rashid Khan, plus David Warner and KS Bharat.
- Lumbini Lions: defending champions with Rohit Paudel, Sher Malla, Dilip Nath, Tilak Bhandari and record buy Aasif Sheikh.
- Pokhara Avengers: Kushal Bhurtel, Kiran Thagunna, Sagar Dhakal and Aakash Chand, with Shakib Al Hasan and Chamika Karunaratne.
- Sudurpaschim Royals: two-time finalists with Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Binod Bhandari, Abinash Bohara and Ishan Pandey.
Every overseas signing is listed in our NPL 2026 overseas players guide, and franchise owners and history are in the NPL teams guide.
FAQ
Who is the captain of Lumbini Lions in NPL 2026?
Rohit Paudel, who also led them to the 2025 title.
Who captains Kathmandu Gorkhas?
Karan KC. Monty Desai is head coach.
Who is the Janakpur Bolts captain?
Harmeet Singh, the USA left-arm spinner, appointed in August 2026.
How many players are in each NPL 2026 squad?
Sixteen to seventeen, including up to 14 domestic players and the overseas signings.
Who was the most expensive player in the NPL 2026 auction?
Aasif Sheikh, bought by Lumbini Lions for Rs 20 lakh, the auction ceiling.