Sudurpaschim Royals go full local in NPL squad build

By Cricketing Country | Posted Posted Aug 11, 2025

Runners-up of the inaugural Nepal Premier League, Sudurpaschim Royals boast the largest fanbase among the eight franchises. In the first edition, their squad wasn’t rated highly on paper after the auction, but strong domestic performances pushed them all the way from their opening match to the final.

This season, the Royals retained captain Dipendra Singh Airee along with Aarif Sheikh, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pandey, Abinash Bohara and Naren Saud.

Their first pick was young medium-pacer Hemant Dhami, known for his lethal inswingers in the powerplay and handy lower-order hitting.

The other additions were Tek Rawat, Dipendra Thapa, Dipak Bohara and Milan Bohara. Tek was one of the members of the Royals talent hunt picks in the previous season. Milan and Dipendra Thapa bring all-round skills, while Dipak Bohara is likely a backup wicketkeeper to Binod Bhandari.

In a notable move, all five of their auction picks hail from Sudurpaschim Province, reinforcing their local identity. The team has leaned heavily towards all-round options, but the bowling department remains incomplete. They will also be searching for a top-order anchor, similar to McMullen from the first season, to stabilise innings. These gaps are expected to be addressed through overseas signings.

Sudurpaschim Royals squad: Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pandey, Abinash Bohara, Naren Saud, Hemant Dhami, Dipendra Thapa, Tek Rawat, Milan Bohara, Dipak Bohara.