T20-LEAGUE

Kathmandu Gurkhas Squad and Schedule NPL 2026: Full List

Published on October 23, 2026

Summary Overview: Kathmandu Gurkhas' squad for the Nepal Premier League 2026, captained by Karan KC with overseas stars David Warner, Rashid Khan, KS Bharat and Sahan Arachchige. All seven league fixtures in Nepal Time, UTC, IST and ET.

Who are Kathmandu Gurkhas? The capital city's franchise in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), Nepal's franchise T20 competition. The name is also often spelled Kathmandu Gorkhas.

Who is the captain? Bowling all-rounder Karan KC, retained as the team's marquee player.

Who are the overseas players? Former Australia opener David Warner, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, India wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat and Sri Lanka all-rounder Sahan Arachchige.

When is their first match? Thursday, October 29 against Janakpur Bolts at 12:30 PM Nepal Time (06:45 UTC, 12:15 PM IST, 2:45 AM ET).

The Story: The NPL's Biggest Signing

The Nepal Premier League returns for its third season from October 26 to November 21, with every game at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur. Lumbini Lions are the defending champions, and Janakpur Bolts won the first title in 2024.

For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), so a game lasts about three and a half hours. In the NPL, the eight teams play each other once, and the top four reach the playoffs. Each team can field up to four overseas players in its XI.

The Gurkhas made the headlines in September when they signed David Warner as a marquee player, a deal Nepali media called the biggest signing in NPL history. They have also kept Rashid Khan, one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, and were the first team to announce an overseas player this season, signing KS Bharat in August.

The Talking Points

Warner at the Top

David Warner is one of the greatest openers of his generation. He won the 2015 and 2023 ODI World Cups and the 2021 T20 World Cup with Australia, and he brings huge experience to the top of the Gurkhas' order.

Rashid Khan, the Wicket-Taker

Retained leg-spinner Rashid Khan is the centrepiece of the bowling attack. In a T20 game he bowls four overs, and those are often the overs that decide the match.

Karan KC Leads

Karan KC was retained as the Gurkhas' marquee player and named captain. He is a Nepal international who bowls seam and can hit hard in the lower order.

A Strong Nepali Core

The Gurkhas kept Bhim Sharki, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Santosh Yadav and Shahab Alam. Sahil Patel was their most expensive auction buy, at Rs. 5 lakh.

The Full Kathmandu Gurkhas Squad

Role	Players
Captain	Karan KC
Batters	David Warner, KS Bharat (wk), Bhim Sharki, Sahil Patel, Suryanshu Koirala
All-rounders	Karan KC (c), Sahan Arachchige, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Santosh Yadav, Prasiddha Jaishi, Dev Shah
Bowlers	Rashid Khan, Shahab Alam, Krishna Paudel, Dayanand Mandal, Sonu Devkota

16 players listed so far. Overseas: David Warner (Australia), Rashid Khan (Afghanistan), KS Bharat (India), Sahan Arachchige (Sri Lanka). Each NPL squad must have six to eight overseas players, so more signings are expected.

How They Were Signed

Player	How signed	Price
Karan KC	Retained (marquee)
Rashid Khan	Retained
Bhim Sharki	Retained
Mohammad Aadil Alam	Retained
Santosh Yadav	Retained
Shahab Alam	Retained
David Warner	Marquee signing
KS Bharat	Overseas signing
Sahan Arachchige	Overseas signing
Sahil Patel	Auction	Rs. 5 lakh
Suryanshu Koirala	Auction	Rs. 2 lakh
Prasiddha Jaishi	Auction	Rs. 2 lakh
Dev Shah	Auction	Rs. 2 lakh
Krishna Paudel	Auction	Rs. 2 lakh
Dayanand Mandal	Auction	Rs. 2 lakh
Sonu Devkota	Auction	Rs. 2 lakh

Prices are in Nepali rupees, as listed by the Nepal Premier League.

📄 Download the Kathmandu Gurkhas squad and schedule as a PDF to save or share.

Players to Watch

David Warner: A three-time World Cup winner with Australia and the NPL's headline signing.

Rashid Khan: A world-class leg-spinner who can win a game in four overs.

Karan KC (c): The Gurkhas' captain and marquee player, a seam bowler who hits hard.

KS Bharat (wk): A former India Test wicketkeeper, and the first overseas player signed this season.

Sahan Arachchige: A Sri Lanka all-rounder who bats in the middle order and bowls off-spin.

Mohammad Aadil Alam: A retained Nepal international all-rounder.

Kathmandu Gurkhas Fixtures (Nepal Time, UTC, IST and ET)

All matches are at the TU International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur.

#	Date	Opponent	Nepal (NPT)	UTC	IST	ET
5	Thu, Oct 29	vs Janakpur Bolts	12:30 PM	06:45	12:15 PM	2:45 AM
10	Mon, Nov 2	vs Karnali Yaks	12:30 PM	06:45	12:15 PM	1:45 AM
15	Thu, Nov 5	vs Biratnagar Kings	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM
18	Sat, Nov 7	vs Lumbini Lions	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM
20	Mon, Nov 9	vs Chitwan Rhinos	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM
24	Fri, Nov 13	vs Sudurpaschim Royals	12:30 PM	06:45	12:15 PM	1:45 AM
28	Sun, Nov 15	vs Pokhara Avengers	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM

NPT is Nepal Time (UTC+5:45). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Time: Daylight Time (UTC-4) until November 1, then Standard Time (UTC-5). In Pakistan, 12:30 PM games start at 11:45 AM and 5:00 PM games at 4:15 PM. Every match starts on the same calendar date in all zones.

The fixture pattern: the Gurkhas are the last team to start, three days after the season opens. They then play the final league match of the season, against Pokhara Avengers on November 15, so they could know exactly what they need to reach the playoffs.

Playoffs (If They Qualify)

Stage	Date	Fixture	Nepal (NPT)	UTC	IST	ET
Qualifier 1	Tue, Nov 17	1st vs 2nd	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM
Eliminator	Wed, Nov 18	3rd vs 4th	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM
Qualifier 2	Thu, Nov 19	Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM
Final	Sat, Nov 21	Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2	5:00 PM	11:15	4:45 PM	6:15 AM

Stat Corner

Stat	Figure
Squad size	16 listed so far
Overseas players	4 named (6 to 8 required)
Retained players	6
Most expensive auction buy	Sahil Patel, Rs. 5 lakh
First game	Oct 29, the last team to start
League matches	7