The third edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) began on Monday at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, with defending champions Lumbini Lions defeating last season’s runners-up Sudurpaschim Royals by seven wickets in the opening match. The tournament, organised by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and sponsored by Siddhartha Bank, runs until Mangsir 5. Eight franchise teams are competing, and this edition marks the first time the Decision Review System (DRS) is being used in the league.
Champions start with a win
The opening fixture brought together the reigning champions and the team that finished as runners-up last season. Lumbini captain Rohit Kumar Poudel won the toss and chose to field, setting the terms for the first match of the competition. Lumbini then went on to secure a seven-wicket victory over Sudurpaschim.
The result gives the defending champions a winning start as they begin their campaign to retain the title. For Sudurpaschim, the opening defeat means the runners-up begin this edition without a win. The supplied match details do not include individual performances or the innings totals, but the seven-wicket margin establishes the outcome of the first contest.
Beginning the tournament with last season’s top two teams put a prominent fixture at the centre of opening day. It also made the first result an early point of comparison with the previous edition, even as the competition now turns to the remaining matches in a schedule running through Mangsir 5.
Eight franchises and the first use of DRS
Eight franchise teams are taking part in the third NPL. The tournament’s format brings those teams together in a competition organised by CAN, Nepal’s cricket governing body. The opening match in Kirtipur marked the start of the league’s new edition, with the participating franchises beginning their campaigns at the same venue.
The introduction of the Decision Review System is a notable change this season. DRS is being used in the NPL for the first time, adding a new feature to the competition’s on-field decision process. Its debut distinguishes this edition from the league’s previous seasons, although the available details do not specify how many reviews teams will receive or describe any particular review made in the opening match.
Coverage around the tournament has also drawn attention to the arrival of international cricket stars and to transparency as an issue for the competition. Those themes appear in reports about the new season, alongside discussion of what makes this edition distinctive. The confirmed changes include the first use of DRS and the participation of eight franchises.
CAN organises the competition
CAN is organising the tournament, with Siddhartha Bank serving as sponsor. The NPL began at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, within Kathmandu, and is scheduled to continue until Mangsir 5. The venue hosted the opening match between Lumbini Lions and Sudurpaschim Royals.
The first result has put the champions on the board with a seven-wicket win, while the league’s wider contest is only beginning. With eight franchises involved and DRS making its debut, the third NPL combines a familiar title challenge with a first-time feature in the tournament. Further matches will determine how the teams progress before the competition concludes on Mangsir 5.
