Nepal Premier League Opener: Lumbini vs Sudurpaschim, How to Watch

The third season of the Nepal Premier League opens on Monday, October 26 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, with a rematch of last year's final. Defending champions Lumbini Lions, led by Rohit Paudel, face Sudurpaschim Royals, led by Dipendra Singh Airee, the side Lumbini beat to take the title. The season runs to the final on November 21, with 32 matches and eight teams, all at the same ground.

A start time that moved

Readers who saved the first schedule should update it. Evening matches were set for 4:30 p.m., but the Cricket Association of Nepal moved evening starts to 5:00 p.m., confirming the change on October 20. The later start gives the Decision Review System, used in this league for the first time, room to work, since reviews can add time to a match. On single match days, including the opener, play begins at 5:00 p.m. Nepal time. On double header days the first match starts at 12:30 p.m. and the second at 5:00 p.m.

How to watch

In Nepal, Himalaya Sports carries the tournament on television, under the broadcast notice issued by the Cricket Association of Nepal. NETTV streams every match worldwide on its app and web platform, and Star Sports carries the tournament on international television. The NETTV season pass costs Rs 400 in Nepal. Match tickets are sold through eSewa, from Rs 500 for league matches. The ground has been worked on for this season, with about 2,000 seats added, a covered parapet and a new LED scoreboard.

The final these two sides remember

On December 13, 2025, the Royals won the toss in the final and collapsed for 85 in 19.1 overs. Paudel took a hat trick and finished with 3 for 12, Ruben Trumpelmann took 3 for 3 and was named player of the match, and Sher Malla took 3 for 18. Dinesh Adhikari then hit 42 off 13 balls, and Lumbini reached 86 for 4 in nine overs. The Royals had topped the league table that season and lost the final in nine overs of batting reply. Monday gives them the first shot at the side that did it, on the same ground, before either team has played a ball this season.

The season shape

Each of the eight teams plays seven league matches. The playoff round runs in the last week of the season: Qualifier 1 on November 17, the Eliminator on November 18, and Qualifier 2 on November 19, before the final on November 21. The league carries ICC sanction and official T20 status this season, alongside the first use of the review system.