Lumbini Lions NPL 2026: Captain and Squad
Lumbini Lions NPL 2026 squad update: Rohit Paudel captains the defending champions as Season 3 begins October 26 at Kirtipur.
Lumbini Lions NPL 2026 campaign begins with national captain Rohit Paudel again at the helm of the defending champions. The franchise that lifted its first title in December 2025 opens Season 3 against Sudurpaschim Royals on October 26 at 4:30 PM Nepal time at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. The tournament runs until November 21 and features eight teams and 32 matches, all staged at the same venue.
Who is the Lumbini Lions captain in NPL 2026?
Rohit Paudel remains captain and marquee player for Lumbini Lions in NPLSeason 3. The Nepal national team skipper led the side to the 2025 title and has been retained as the franchise’s central figure for the new campaign. No vice-captain has been publicly confirmed.
Batters: Sundeep Jora, Aakash Tripathi, Dilip Nath.
Wicketkeepers: Aasif Sheikh, Dilip Nath.
All-rounders: Rohit Paudel, Arniko Prasad Yadav, Dinesh Adhikari.
Bowlers: Sher Malla, Tilak Bhandari, Abhishesh Gautam, Durgesh Gupta, Kishor Mahato, Ajay Chauhan.
Overseas players: Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia), Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka), D'Arcy Short (Australia).
The seven retained players are Rohit Paudel, Sher Malla, Dilip Nath, Sundeep Jora, Dinesh Adhikari, Abhishesh Gautam and Tilak Bhandari. Auction buys completed on 6 July 2026 include Aasif Sheikh, Kishor Mahato, Durgesh Gupta, Aakash Tripathi, Ajay Chauhan and Arniko Prasad Yadav. Roles for some domestic players remain fluid and may shift once the final playing group is locked in.
Overseas players
Confirmed overseas names for Lumbini Lions NPL 2026 are Ruben Trumpelmann of Namibia, a left-arm fast bowler who was Player of the Series in 2025, Niroshan Dickwella of Sri Lanka, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter retained after a strong title-winning contribution, and D'Arcy Short of Australia, the left-handed opener who scored heavily in the previous season. Availability remains subject to national-duty clearances and final league confirmation.
Coach and support staff
Tinu Yohannan has been retained as head coach for Season 3. The former India fast bowler guided the Lions from a difficult start in 2025 to the championship. Management changes reported alongside the coaching retention include Sandesh Katuwal taking over as Chief Executive Officer, with previous CEO Bhavana Ghimire moving to the role of Executive Director. Robin Singh served as mentor in 2025; his continued involvement for 2026 has not been freshly confirmed in recent reports.
Key players to watch
Rohit Paudel scored 276 runs and took 10 wickets across 10 matches in 2025 while leading the side to the title. Sher Malla claimed 17 wickets, joint-highest in the tournament, and earned the emerging-player award. Aasif Sheikh arrived via the July auction as the most expensive domestic signing and adds top-order batting plus wicketkeeping depth. Ruben Trumpelmann finished as Player of the Series with 15 wickets and delivered match-winning spells in the playoffs.
How the Lions won the 2025 title and their record so far
Lumbini Lions finished seventh in the inaugural 2024 season. In 2025 they placed fourth in the group stage with four wins and three losses, then won six consecutive matches through the playoffs. In the final on 13 December 2025 they beat Sudurpaschim Royals by six wickets, chasing 86 in nine overs after bowling the Royals out for 85. Paudel took a hat-trick in the final, Trumpelmann returned 3 for 3, and Dinesh Adhikari’s rapid 42 off 13 balls set up the chase.
Strengths, possible weaknesses and what to expect in Season 3
Continuity is the clearest strength. The core that delivered the title remains largely intact, boosted by the addition of Aasif Sheikh and the return of proven overseas performers. Spin options around Sher Malla and Tilak Bhandari, combined with Trumpelmann’s pace, give the attack variety on the Kirtipur surface. Potential pressure points include limited remaining purse for late replacements and the usual risk of national-duty absences for key Nepal internationals. The opener against the 2025 runners-up offers an immediate gauge of how the title defence has progressed.
Squad lists can still change before and during the tournament through replacements or additional overseas clearances. Last updated: October 10, 2026.
FAQWho is in the Lumbini Lions squad for NPL 2026?
The squad as confirmed so far centres on seven retained players plus six auction acquisitions and a small group of overseas signings. Further names may still be added before the tournament starts.
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.