Season 3 in numbers
Four matches, five wickets, 67 runs conceded in 12 overs. Bhandari is the third-highest wicket-taker for Lumbini this season — behind only Sher Malla’s eight and Ruben Trumpelmann’s six — and he has bowled in every game the Lions have played.
| Bowling | M | Balls | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL Season 3 | 4 | 72 | 67 | 5 | 5.58 | 2/5 |
| Batting | M | Runs | Balls | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL Season 3 | 1 | 1* | 3 | 1* |
With the bat he has faced three balls all season — one not out against Kathmandu — because his job is with the ball, and the numbers say he is doing it well: five wickets at 5.58 an over from a leg-spinner who bowls in the middle overs, where runs usually come fastest.
Season 3 figures cover every completed match through Match 21 (the abandoned Match 7 produced no play), compiled from the published match scorecards and updated 10 November 2026.
Match by match
Every Tilak Bhandari spell in NPL Season 3 so far, in the order they happened. The full scores are on the NPL Results page.
| Match | Opponent | Bowling | Batting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 — 26 Oct | Sudurpaschim Royals | 1/18 (4 ov) | Did not bat |
| 13 — 3 Nov | Pokhara Avengers | 2/22 (4 ov) | Did not bat |
| 14 — 5 Nov | Janakpur Bolts | 2/5 (2 ov) | Did not bat |
| 18 — 7 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas | 0/22 (2 ov) | 1* (3 balls) |
The two for five against Janakpur was the spell of his season: two overs, five runs, two wickets, in a game the Lions won by 16 runs. He took a wicket in each of the first three games — one for 18 on the opening night, two for 22 against Pokhara — and only the Kathmandu game, where he bowled two overs for 22 and took none, broke the run. He has bowled his overs in every match, which is the captain’s way of saying the leg-spin is part of the plan, not a gamble.
The match-up weapon
Bhandari is a right-arm leg-break bowler, the only wrist-spinner in the champions’ squad. He was signed in the 2024 auction and retained twice, and he announced himself with four for 22 against Gandaki in June 2023 to win Player of the Match.
His three for 15 came in the 2025 title run, alongside a List A best of four for 17, and the point of him has not changed: leg-spin that turns away from right-handers gives the champions a match-up weapon none of their finger spinners offer. Sher Malla and Abhishesh Gautam bowl the steady middle overs; Bhandari is the variation Rohit Paudel reaches for to break a stand. He is unlikely to start every game as a first-choice bowler, but in a playoff race decided by small margins, a wrist-spinner who has taken five wickets at 5.58 is the kind of option that wins a knockout game.
What’s next
Two league games left in the Nepal Premier League, then the playoffs. Lumbini are third after Match 21 — seven points from five games, with the best net run rate in the league at +1.501. The full table is on the NPL Points Table, and the full list of fixtures is on the NPL Schedule.
- Match 23 — Karnali Yaks vs Lumbini Lions: Thursday 12 November 2026, 4:30 PM NST (3:45 PM PKT, 10:45 AM UTC), TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
- Match 26 — Biratnagar Kings vs Lumbini Lions: Saturday 14 November 2026, 4:30 PM NST (3:45 PM PKT, 10:45 AM UTC), TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
- Playoffs: Qualifier 1 on Tuesday 17 November, the Eliminator on Wednesday 18 November, Qualifier 2 on Thursday 19 November, and the final on Saturday 21 November — every playoff starts at 4:30 PM NST.
Follow every NPL result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
How many wickets has Tilak Bhandari taken in NPL 2026?
Five wickets in four matches, at an economy of 5.58 runs per over, with best figures of 2 for 5 against Janakpur Bolts. Figures cover matches 1–21.
What kind of bowler is Tilak Bhandari?
A right-arm leg-break bowler — the only wrist-spinner in the Lumbini Lions squad. His leg-spin turns away from right-handers, which gives the champions a match-up their finger spinners do not offer.
When is Lumbini Lions’ next match?
Match 23 against Karnali Yaks on Thursday 12 November 2026, starting at 4:30 PM NST at the TU Ground in Kirtipur. Their last league game is against Biratnagar Kings on Saturday 14 November.