Where the Avengers stand
One win, four defeats, two points — that is Pokhara's season after five matches. They lost to Sudurpaschim Royals by six wickets, to Janakpur Bolts by nine runs, to Lumbini Lions by eight wickets and to Chitwan Rhinos by 30 runs. Then, on Monday 9 November, they posted 217 for 3 against Karnali Yaks and won by 63 runs — the biggest total and the biggest win of the season so far.
The problem is the batting around that one night. Pokhara were bowled out for 97 by Lumbini and 121 by Chitwan, and they have not passed 150 in any of their four defeats. Their net run rate of minus 0.707 is better than Karnali's and Biratnagar's, which matters: if the Avengers win both remaining matches, the playoff race comes down to net run rate.
| # | Team | P | W | L | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Chitwan Rhinos | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | +0.009 |
| 5 | Janakpur Bolts | 6 | 2 | 4 | 4 | -0.303 |
| 6 | Biratnagar Kings | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.820 |
| 7 | Karnali Yaks | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -0.846 |
| 8 | Pokhara Avengers | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | -0.707 |
Full table: NPL Points Table. A win is worth 2 points, a no result 1, and the top four qualify for the playoffs.
Results so far
| Match | Date | Fixture & scores | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Wed 28 Oct | Pokhara Avengers 145/7 vs Sudurpaschim Royals 148/4 | Sudurpaschim Royals won by 6 wickets |
| 9 | Sun 1 Nov | Janakpur Bolts 147/7 vs Pokhara Avengers 138/9 | Janakpur Bolts won by 9 runs |
| 13 | Tue 3 Nov | Lumbini Lions 98/2 vs Pokhara Avengers 97/9 | Lumbini Lions won by 8 wickets |
| 17 | Fri 6 Nov | Chitwan Rhinos 151/6 vs Pokhara Avengers 121/10 | Chitwan Rhinos won by 30 runs |
| 19 | Mon 9 Nov | Pokhara Avengers 217/3 vs Karnali Yaks 154/10 | Pokhara Avengers won by 63 runs |
Four of the five games followed the same shape: Pokhara's batting never fired, and the totals — 145, 138, 97 and 121 — were never enough. The exception was Match 19, when Yuvraaj Samra's 102 — the highest individual score of the season — carried them to 217, a total no side has matched. Every result: NPL Results.
The squad
Captain: Kushal Bhurtel. Coach: Ajantha Mendis. The list below covers the 17 names verified for Season 3 before the tournament, including the head coach.
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Kushal Bhurtel (captain) | Batter |
| Arjun Kumal | Batter |
| Bibek Kumar Rana Magar | Batter |
| Bipin Acharya | All-rounder |
| Bipin Khatri | All-rounder |
| Chamika Karunaratne | Bowling all-rounder |
| Dinesh Kharel | All-rounder |
| Mahedi Hasan | All-rounder |
| Shakib Al Hasan | All-rounder |
| Aakash Chand | Bowler |
| Pratik Pokharel | Bowler |
| Sagar Dhakal | Bowler |
| Sudip Aryal | Bowler |
| Arjun Gharti | Wicketkeeper |
| Kiran Thagunna | — |
| Sunny BK | — |
| Ajantha Mendis | Head coach |
Four more players have appeared for Pokhara this season — Yuvraaj Samra, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya Lakshan and Mohammad Saifuddin — but they are not in the pre-season verified list, so they are not listed as squad members here. Their match figures appear in the section below.
Who has delivered
Kushal Bhurtel has led from the front: 136 runs from five matches, including 62, and four wickets. Yuvraaj Samra has played twice and made 121 runs, including 102 against Karnali — the highest individual score of the season so far, and the only century of the tournament.
Chamika Karunaratne has 66 runs and four wickets, Mahedi Hasan 65 runs and five wickets — joint-most for Pokhara, with Bipin Khatri — and Shakib Al Hasan four wickets from three matches.
What comes next
| Match | Date & time | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Thu 12 Nov, 12:30 PM NST (11:45 AM PKT, 6:45 AM UTC) | Biratnagar Kings vs Pokhara Avengers | TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| 28 | Sun 15 Nov, 4:30 PM NST (3:45 PM PKT, 10:45 AM UTC) | Pokhara Avengers vs Kathmandu Gorkhas | TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
Only two wins keep the season alive. Beat Biratnagar on Thursday and Kathmandu on Sunday and Pokhara reach six points — but with Kathmandu Gorkhas, Sudurpaschim Royals and Lumbini Lions already on seven or more, the last playoff place would come down to net run rate, and to Chitwan Rhinos losing both of their remaining matches while Biratnagar Kings and Karnali Yaks drop at least one each. Another defeat ends their season outright. Full list: NPL Schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Pokhara Avengers sit in the NPL 2026 points table?
Eighth and last, with two points from five matches — one win and four defeats — and a net run rate of minus 0.707. They are three points behind Chitwan Rhinos, who hold the last playoff place. Their one win came against Karnali Yaks in Match 19, by 63 runs.
Who is the Pokhara Avengers captain?
Kushal Bhurtel, who also leads the side's batting with 136 runs from five matches, including 62. Ajantha Mendis is the head coach. Bhurtel has captained Pokhara in all five matches so far, and has also taken four wickets. Mendis, the former Sri Lanka spinner, guides the side's spin attack.
What is Pokhara Avengers' best result this season?
The 63-run win over Karnali Yaks on Monday 9 November: 217 for 3, the highest total of the season, built on Yuvraaj Samra's 102 — the only century of the tournament so far. No other side has passed 200 this season, and no other batter has reached three figures.
Can Pokhara Avengers still reach the playoffs?
Only by winning both remaining matches — Biratnagar Kings on Thursday 12 November and Kathmandu Gorkhas on Sunday 15 November — to reach six points. Even then they need Chitwan Rhinos to lose both of theirs, and net run rate to fall their way.
SialTV will update this page after every Pokhara Avengers match.