Two finals, two defeats: can Sudurpaschim finally finish the job?
Runners-up in 2024 and 2025 — and they open Season 3 against the side that beat them last December.
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No team has been more consistent in the Nepal Premier League than Sudurpaschim Royals — and no team has more reason to be frustrated.
Season 1: the Bolts strike
In 2024 the Royals beat Janakpur Bolts by eight wickets in Qualifier 1 to go straight into the final. Three days later the same opponents turned the tables: Janakpur chased down Sudurpaschim's total with five wickets in hand to become the first NPL champions.
Season 2: the Lions roar
In 2025 the Royals were again the form side in the playoffs, crushing Biratnagar Kings by 77 runs in Qualifier 1. In the final they met Lumbini Lions, who had come the long way round through the Eliminator and Qualifier 2. Lumbini won by six wickets to lift the trophy.
Season 3: straight back in
The fixture list has given Dipendra Singh Airee's side no time to dwell on it. Match 1 on October 26 is Lumbini Lions v Sudurpaschim Royals at Kirtipur — a repeat of last year's final, under lights at 4:30 PM Nepal time.
With Misbah-ul-Haq listed as head coach and Scott Kuggeleijn and Brandon McMullen among the overseas signings, the Royals have the pieces again. The question is the same one they have faced twice: can they win the last game?