Kathmandu Gorkhas NPL 2026 Squad and Captain

Karan KC will captain the Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Kathmandu Gorkhas NPL 2026 campaign, leading a squad strengthened by overseas signings David Warner of Australia, India wicketkeeper K. S. Bharat and Sri Lanka all-rounder Sahan Arachchige. Nepal Premier League Season 3 will be played from October 26 to November 21, 2026, with all 32 matches at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The Gorkhas begin their season against Karnali Yaks on November 2 at 12:30 PM Nepal time.

The franchise, also referred to by some outlets as Kathmandu Gurkhas, retained Karan KC as its marquee player and captain. He is a right-arm fast-medium bowling all-rounder and one of Nepal’s most experienced limited-overs cricketers. The Gorkhas will expect his leadership and all-round contribution to anchor a team that reached the playoffs in NPL 2025 but fell short of the final.

Karan KC’s appointment continues his role from the previous season. He captained Kathmandu Gorkhas through NPL 2025, when the team finished third in the league stage and qualified for the Eliminator. His combination of new-ball bowling, middle-order batting and captaincy makes him central to the Gorkhas’ plans for Season 3.

From the July 6, 2026 auction, the franchise added Sahil Patel, Prashiddha Jaisi, Dayanand Mandal, Krishna Paudel, Dev Shah, Suryanshu Koirala and Sonu Devkota. The franchise has also signed David Warner, K. S. Bharat and Sahan Arachchige as overseas players.

• Batters: David Warner (Australia), Bhim Sharki.
• Wicketkeepers: K. S. Bharat (India).
• All-rounders: Karan KC, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Rashid Khan, Sahan Arachchige (Sri Lanka).
• Bowlers: Shahab Alam.
• Other squad members: Sahil Patel, Prashiddha Jaisi, Dayanand Mandal, Krishna Paudel, Dev Shah, Suryanshu Koirala, Sonu Devkota. Their exact playing roles have not been clearly confirmed in reliable pre-tournament reporting, so they are listed as squad members rather than assigned to a specific category.
• Overseas players: David Warner (Australia), batter; K. S. Bharat (India), wicketkeeper; Sahan Arachchige (Sri Lanka), all-rounder.

Warner↗is the highest-profile addition to the Kathmandu Gorkhas squad 2026. The former Australia opener signed a marquee overseas contract with the franchise in September 2026, joining Bharat and Arachchige on the international roster. Bharat, a former India Test wicketkeeper, adds experience behind the stumps, while Arachchige gives the side another batting and bowling option.

Monty Desai remains head coach of Kathmandu Gorkhas for NPL Season 3. Desai, a former Nepal national team head coach from India, held the same position with the Gorkhas in 2025. No vice-captain, assistant coach or wider support-staff appointments have been officially confirmed in the available pre-tournament reporting.

Karan KC is the first key player to watch. As captain and marquee all-rounder, he provides leadership as well as bowling and batting depth. Mohammad Aadil Alam is another major presence; at the 2025 auction, he was the only player to receive the maximum bid from all eight franchises, underlining his value across the league.

Bhim Sharki gives the Gorkhas a dependable Nepali batting option, while Shahab Alam offers spin-bowling experience. Among the overseas signings, Warner’s top-order power and Bharat’s wicketkeeping will be closely watched, particularly in the early matches at Kirtipur.

Kathmandu Gorkhashave played in both previous NPL seasons. In Season 1 in 2024, then known as Kathmandu Gurkhas, they won four of seven league matches but missed the playoffs on net run rate and finished fifth. In NPL 2025, they improved to third in the league stage with five wins from seven matches and advanced to the Eliminator.

Their 2025 campaign ended against Lumbini Lions in the Eliminator at Kirtipur on December 10, 2025. Kathmandu Gorkhas were dismissed for 111 in 19.1 overs, and Lumbini chased 112 for 6 in 17.4 overs to win by four wickets with 14 balls remaining. Lumbini went on to win the 2025 title.

The Gorkhas’ main strength is an experienced Nepali core. Karan KC, Aadil Alam, Rashid Khan, Shahab Alam, Santosh Yadav and Bhim Sharki give the side continuity from last season, while the addition of Warner, Bharat and Arachchige addresses the need for established international quality. The presence of a specialist wicketkeeper in Bharat should also help balance the XI.

The possible concern is adaptation. Several of the auction additions have limited confirmed top-level NPL experience, and the team will need its overseas players to settle quickly in Nepali conditions. With only three confirmed overseas signings, squad depth could be tested if injuries, national-duty clashes or late withdrawals occur before or during the tournament.

Kathmandu Gorkhas open against Karnali Yaks on November 2, then face Janakpur Bolts on October 29? No—their first confirmed fixture is against Karnali Yaks on November 2, followed by matches against Biratnagar Kings on November 5, Lumbini Lions on November 7, Chitwan Rhinos on November 9, Sudurpaschim Royals on November 13 and Pokhara Avengers on November 15. Those fixtures give the Gorkhas a demanding but manageable league schedule at their home Kirtipur venue.

Squads can change before and during the tournament because of injuries, replacements, availability issues or late signings. Fans should therefore treat this as the Kathmandu Gorkhas squad as confirmed so far, with further official announcements possible before NPL Season 3 begins.

For an independent comparison of all eight franchise squads, see the NPL Hub Nepal Season 3 squad rankings, which scores every team on batting, bowling, overseas power and squad depth.