NPL 2025 on Star Sports: Live Coverage & Schedule
22nd July 2025, Kathmandu
Get ready for the thrilling second season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) in 2025! Star Sports has confirmed its continued partnership as the official broadcast partner, bringing live cricket action directly to fans.
NPL 2025 on Star Sports
Discover team news, match schedules, player updates, and how to watch every exciting moment of NPL 2025 on Star Sports. Don’t miss out on Nepal’s premier T20 cricket tournament!
About NPL Season 2
To make Nepal Premier League (NPL) Season 2 even bigger than its successful inaugural season and further promote cricket in Nepal, a multi-faceted approach is essential.
Firstly, elevating the player experience and talent pool is crucial. This means attracting more high-profile international players, perhaps increasing the number of foreign player slots per team, or offering more lucrative contracts to draw top talent. Simultaneously, the league should continue to nurture local talent through enhanced scouting, dedicated academies, and clear pathways from grassroots to the NPL. The focus on retaining key Nepalese players, as seen with teams like Sudurpaschim Royals retaining Dipendra Singh Airee, is a positive step.
Secondly, expanding the league’s footprint and fan engagement is vital. While Season 1 was primarily held at TU Cricket Ground, NPL Season 2 should ideally incorporate more venues across Nepal. Playing matches in cities like Pokhara, Biratnagar, or Chitwan (which already have franchises) would bring the excitement of live cricket closer to more fans, potentially increasing attendance and local enthusiasm. Implementing night matches under floodlights at key venues would also enhance the spectacle and accommodate larger audiences. Promotion through diverse media channels, including digital platforms, and engaging fan activities at match venues can amplify the buzz.
Thirdly, strengthening commercial partnerships and infrastructure is key to long-term growth. Securing more title sponsors and official partners, similar to WorldLink Communications’ sponsorship of Kathmandu Gurkhas, provides financial stability. Investment in upgrading existing stadiums and developing new cricketing infrastructure is paramount. This includes improving spectator facilities, practice nets, and overall ground conditions.
Finally, maintaining transparency and integrity is non-negotiable. Continuing to uphold strong anti-corruption measures and ensuring fair play will build trust among players, fans, and stakeholders, solidifying the NPL’s reputation as a credible and exciting league. By focusing on these areas, NPL Season 2 can undoubtedly build on its promising start and become a true catalyst for cricket’s growth in Nepal.
About NPL Season 1
The inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), officially known as the Siddhartha Bank NPL for sponsorship reasons, marked a significant milestone in Nepalese cricket. Organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the league was established in 2024 to create a professional and sustainable Twenty20 cricket tournament in the country. This came after the discontinuation of previous attempts at a franchise league, like the Nepal T20 League, which faced issues related to player payments.
Genesis and Structure:
The foundation for the NPL was laid in January 2024, following the Nepal national cricket team’s qualification for the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup, generating immense enthusiasm for the sport. To ensure a robust start, an auction for the eight franchise teams was held on September 5, 2024, with teams based on various provinces/cities across Nepal. These franchises collectively brought in substantial investment into Nepalese cricket. Each team was allowed to acquire up to 10 players through auction (3 Grade A, 4 Grade B, and 3 Grade C), with a total salary cap of NPR 90 lakhs. Additionally, each squad could include up to four foreign players, including one marquee player.
Participating Teams:
The first season of the Nepal Premier League featured eight teams, each representing a different region or city:
Biratnagar Kings
Chitwan Rhinos
Janakpur Bolts
Karnali Yaks
Kathmandu Gurkhas
Lumbini Lions
Pokhara Avengers
Sudurpaschim Royals
These teams brought a mix of seasoned national players and exciting international talent, enhancing the league’s competitive edge and appeal. Notable international players included James Neesham, Martin Guptill, Shikhar Dhawan, and Ben Cutting, among others, who added significant star power.
Tournament Format and Season Highlights
The inaugural season ran from November 30 to December 21, 2024. The tournament adopted a round-robin format, with all eight teams playing each other once. The top four teams from the league stage then advanced to the playoffs, comprising an Eliminator, Qualifier 1, and Qualifier 2, leading to the grand final.
Throughout the league stage, fans witnessed exciting contests and impressive individual performances. The competition was fierce, with teams battling for playoff spots until the final league matches.
The Champions
After a captivating tournament, the Janakpur Bolts emerged as the champions of the inaugural Nepal Premier League. They defeated the Sudurpaschim Royals in the final, capping off a remarkable season. The winning team received a significant prize money of NPR 1.1 crore, while the runners-up, Sudurpaschim Royals, were awarded NPR 51 lakhs.
Individual Accolades
The first season also saw several players shine with outstanding performances:
Player of the Tournament: Saif Zaib (Sudurpaschim Royals)
Nepalese Player of the Tournament: Dipendra Singh Airee (Sudurpaschim Royals)
Bowler of the Tournament: Lalit Rajbanshi (Janakpur Bolts)
Emerging Player: Bipin Sharma (Karnali Yaks)
Most Runs: Lahiru Milantha (Janakpur Bolts) with 293 runs
Most Wickets: Scott Kuggeleijn (Sudurpaschim Royals) and Lalit Rajbanshi (Janakpur Bolts) with 17 wickets each.
The successful completion of the first season of the Nepal Premier League laid a strong foundation for professional cricket in Nepal, bringing high-quality T20 action to fans and providing a valuable platform for Nepalese cricketers to compete alongside international stars. The partnership with broadcasters like Star Sports ensured wide reach and visibility, setting the stage for even more exciting seasons to come.
For more: NPL 2025 on Star Sports
