Four wins, one loss — and the star has gone home
Kathmandu’s season turned on one signing and one departure. David Warner’s arrival gave the Gorkhas the biggest name the league has ever signed; his 127 runs came in four innings, and Kathmandu won all four matches he played. Then, on Tuesday 10 November, the club confirmed he had returned to Australia, and the side that leads the table must now win its last two league matches — against Sudurpaschim Royals and Pokhara Avengers — without him.
The opening defeat still stands out. Janakpur Bolts bowled Kathmandu out for 115 in Match 5 and chased it down with eight wickets to spare. Since then, nothing has gone wrong. Karnali Yaks were beaten by four wickets, Biratnagar Kings by nine, Lumbini Lions by 36 runs and Chitwan Rhinos by 10. Four wins, four different ways to get them — a chase, a cruise, a defence and a scrap.
Karan KC captains the side. He has 81 runs and 7 wickets in five matches, and the Gorkhas finished fifth in Season 1 (2024) before reaching the Eliminator in Season 2 (2025) — their best result until now. This season, for the first time, they sit on top of the table.
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Kathmandu Gorkhas squad
Sixteen players are verified for Season 3 in the NPL data file. Three of them are overseas signings — David Warner, KS Bharat and Sahan Arachchige. Warner has since returned home; KS Bharat and Sahan Arachchige are the other two overseas names in the verified squad.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Bhim Sharki | Batter |
| David Warner | Batter |
| Dayanand Mandal | Bowler |
| Dev Shah | — |
| Karan KC (Captain) | All-rounder |
| Krishna Paudel | — |
| KS Bharat | Wicketkeeper |
| Mohammad Aadil Alam | All-rounder |
| Prashiddha Jaishi | All-rounder |
| Rashid Khan | Bowler |
| Sahan Arachchige | All-rounder |
| Sahil Patel | Wicketkeeper |
| Santosh Yadav | All-rounder |
| Shahab Alam | Bowler |
| Sonu Devkota | Bowler |
| Suryanshu Koirala | Batter |
The list shows the 16 players verified for Season 3 in the NPL data file (checked 21 October 2026). A small number of players are still unverified for Season 3 and are not listed here. Head coach: Monty Desai.
Results so far — four wins from five
Newest first. The pattern is hard to miss: with Warner in the side, Kathmandu won four from four. Without him, in the opener against Janakpur, they were bowled out for 115 and lost by eight wickets.
| Match | Date | Fixture & scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Mon 9 Nov | Chitwan Rhinos 170/7 (20 ov) vs Kathmandu Gorkhas 180/8 (20 ov) | Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 10 runs |
| 18 | Sat 7 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas 160/8 (20 ov) vs Lumbini Lions 124/10 (19.3 ov) | Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 36 runs |
| 15 | Thu 5 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas 86/1 (9.4 ov) vs Biratnagar Kings 83/10 (18.3 ov) | Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 9 wickets |
| 10 | Mon 2 Nov | Kathmandu Gorkhas 181/6 (19.4 ov) vs Karnali Yaks 180/6 (20 ov) | Kathmandu Gorkhas won by 4 wickets |
| 5 | Thu 29 Oct | Janakpur Bolts 116/2 (17.2 ov) vs Kathmandu Gorkhas 115/10 (19.3 ov) | Janakpur Bolts won by 8 wickets |
Scores verified against the NPL results file (updated 9 November 2026, source: ESPN / verified scorecards).
Warner has gone home
David Warner played four matches for Kathmandu Gorkhas, scored 127 runs and left with four wins from four. His scores were 16 against Karnali, 44 not out against Biratnagar, 66 against Lumbini and 1 against Chitwan. Gorkhas manager Deepak KC confirmed the departure in a social media post on Tuesday 10 November, thanking Warner for what he gave the team and Nepali cricket. Warner has returned to Australia.
It leaves a hole at the top of the order. Warner’s 66 against Lumbini remains the highest score by a Kathmandu batter this season. The runs now have to come from elsewhere: Rashid Khan, the retained bowler who has made 120 runs in four matches, and Karan KC, with 81, are the next names on the list — and Sahil Patel’s 38 against Lumbini showed the middle order can stand up.
Where Kathmandu stand — top, and already through
| # | Team | P | W | L | Pts | NRR | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathmandu Gorkhas | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | +1.168 | L W W W W |
Kathmandu cannot miss the playoffs now. Only three teams can still pass 8 points — Lumbini Lions (11 maximum), Sudurpaschim Royals (10) and Chitwan Rhinos (9) — so even if the Gorkhas lose both remaining matches, they finish no lower than fourth. The fight now is for the top two, which go straight to Qualifier 1 on 17 November; third and fourth go to the Eliminator on 18 November.
Two matches remain: Sudurpaschim Royals on Friday 13 November and Pokhara Avengers on Sunday 15 November. Win the first and the Gorkhas reach 10 points — only Lumbini could still pass them. SialTV will update this page after every match day, through the final.
Next match — Kathmandu Gorkhas vs Sudurpaschim Royals
Match 24, Friday 13 November 2026, 12:30 PM NST (11:45 AM PKT, 6:45 AM UTC), TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. It is the biggest match of the league stage so far: first against second, both on 8 points, and the winner reaches 10 and takes the lead at the top. It is also the first meeting of the two sides this season.
The Royals arrive in form — three straight wins, the latest a 27-run win over Janakpur Bolts in Match 21 — while Kathmandu arrive without Warner. A Gorkhas win settles the top spot in their favour; a Sudurpaschim Royals win puts the Royals top instead.
Frequently asked questions
Who captains Kathmandu Gorkhas?
Karan KC. The all-rounder leads the side in Season 3 and has 81 runs and 7 wickets in five matches, and the Gorkhas have won four of those five — all four of the matches David Warner played.
Has David Warner left Kathmandu Gorkhas?
Yes. Warner returned to Australia after four matches, four wins and 127 runs. Gorkhas manager Deepak KC confirmed the departure on Tuesday 10 November. Kathmandu play their last two league matches — against Sudurpaschim Royals and Pokhara Avengers — without him.
Where do Kathmandu Gorkhas stand in the NPL points table?
First, with 8 points from five matches (four wins, one loss) and a net run rate of +1.168. They are level on points with second-placed Sudurpaschim Royals and ahead on net run rate. They are already certain of a playoff place.
When is Kathmandu Gorkhas’ next match?
Match 24 against Sudurpaschim Royals, on Friday 13 November 2026 at 12:30 PM NST (11:45 AM PKT, 6:45 AM UTC), at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Their last league match is against Pokhara Avengers on Sunday 15 November.