KATHMANDU, Dec 21: The Sudurpaschim Royals and Janakpur Bolts are set for a thrilling confrontation in the first-ever Nepal Premier League (NPL) final at Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, starting at 12:15 PM today.
Both teams have delivered outstanding performances during the league phase. Sudurpaschim topped the standings with 12 points, while Janakpur claimed second place with 10 points after seven matches. As they approach this decisive match, Sudurpaschim seems to hold an advantage based on their overall performance.
Even with their strong showing, Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee remains prudent. At the pre-final press briefing, he stated, "We've won both our matches against Janakpur without losing a single one, but a final is a different ball game. Anything can transpire. Janakpur is a capable team, and we respect them."
Sudurpaschim Vs Janakpur: Who will lift the inaugural NPL troph...
Janakpur captain Ashif Sheikh, who took over from Anil Shah during the tournament, expressed faith in his squad's potential to recover. "We faced two defeats against Sudurpaschim back-to-back; however, we’re not losing our cool. Our batting faltered then which we've worked on improving since. I anticipate an exciting final," Sheikh commented.
Sudurpaschim’s previous triumphs over Janakpur were clear throughout the competition. They achieved an impressive 72-run victory in one league match by defending a modest score of 123 runs while bowling out Janakpur for just 51 runs. In their rematch during the first qualifier, they secured an easy 8-wicket win to reach the final stage. Conversely, Janakpur rallied back with a nail-biting 2-wicket victory over Karnali Yaks in their subsequent qualifier.
Coached by Jagat Tamata, Sudurpaschim features a well-rounded squad boasting strong batting and bowling units. The opening duo of Saif Zaib and Binod Bhandari has proven to be highly reliable throughout NPL play—showcasing solid partnerships including one half-century effort in the first qualifier. Brendan McMullen provides stability at number three while captain Dipendra Singh Airee stands out as he leads all scorers with 218 runs across eight matches; Zaib (206), Bhandari (194), and McMullen (187) further bolster their batting lineup.
On the bowling side, fast bowler Scott Kuggeleijn tops the tournament chart with 16 wickets so far while both Zaib and Airee have contributed significantly as well — capturing 11 and 8 wickets respectively — making Sudurpaschim favorites for securing the trophy due to their all-around capabilities.
Janakpur's consistency has been hampered under coach Pubudu Dassanayake due to key players like opener Asif Sheikh and middle-order batsman Lahiru Milintha not meeting expectations lately; Sheikh averages only 14 runs across nine games while his opening partner Anil Shah is out due to injury issues leaving Subha Kanshakar struggling for solidity as his replacement.
Despite these shortcomings, Jimmy Neesham from New Zealand has emerged as an impressive performer enhancing team morale—ranking third in NPL scoring charts with a total of 243 runs including pivotal innings such as his vital contribution of 45 runs needed against Karnali Yaks that propelled Janakpur into finals but reliance on Neesham makes them vulnerable if he gets dismissed early which could capsize their chances.
Janakpur also has notable strengths within its bowling unit led by spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi who is levelled alongside Kuggeleijn having taken 16 wickets—effectively maintaining low totals imposed upon opponents whilst Harsh Thakar claims another 11 wickets reinforcing their attack; however lapses within fielding have frequently caused them significant setbacks that must be rectified ahead of the final.
