Chitwan Rhinos Squad and Schedule NPL 2026: Full List
Published on October 23, 2026
Summary Overview: Chitwan Rhinos' full 17-man squad for the Nepal Premier League 2026, captained by Kushal Malla with overseas stars Sikandar Raza, Ravi Bopara, Usama Mir and Kalim Sana. All seven league fixtures in Nepal Time, UTC, IST and ET.
Who are Chitwan Rhinos? One of the eight franchises in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), Nepal's franchise T20 competition.
Who is the captain? Hard-hitting batter Kushal Malla, retained as the team's marquee player.
Who are the overseas players? Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza, former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara, Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir and Canada seamer Kalim Sana.
When is their first match? Tuesday, October 27 against Biratnagar Kings at 12:30 PM Nepal Time (06:45 UTC, 12:15 PM IST, 2:45 AM ET).
The Story: Big Hitters and a Deep Bowling Attack
The Nepal Premier League returns for its third season from October 26 to November 21, with every game at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur. Lumbini Lions are the defending champions, and Janakpur Bolts won the first title in 2024.
For readers new to cricket: in a T20 match, each team bats for up to 20 overs (an over is six legal deliveries), so a game lasts about three and a half hours. In the NPL, the eight teams play each other once, and the top four reach the playoffs.
Chitwan Rhinos have gone the other way from many teams. They have eight specialist bowlers, giving them plenty of options with the ball, while Malla, Raza and Bopara bring the experience with the bat.
The Talking Points
Malla Leads the Rhinos
Kushal Malla was retained as Chitwan's marquee player and named captain. He is one of Nepal's most explosive batters. At the 2023 Asian Games he hit a 34-ball century against Mongolia, which was the fastest in men's T20 internationals at the time.
Raza and Bopara: Experience in the Middle
Sikandar Raza is a match-winner with bat and off-spin, and the second marquee name in the squad. Ravi Bopara, retained by the Rhinos, played for England in all three formats and has years of franchise T20 experience around the world.
A Spin and Seam Mix
Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir and Canada left-arm seamer Kalim Sana lead the overseas bowling. They are backed by a strong Nepali group, including Kamal Singh Airee, Rijan Dhakal and Ranjeet Kumar, all retained.
Bibek Kumar Yadav, the Top Buy
All-rounder Bibek Kumar Yadav was the Rhinos' most expensive buy at the auction, at Rs. 15 lakh. Seamer Mousom Dhakal cost Rs. 3 lakh.
The Full Chitwan Rhinos Squad
| Role | Players |
| Captain | Kushal Malla |
| Batters | Kushal Malla (c), Deepak Bohara, Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud (wk), Bipin Rawal |
| All-rounders | Ravi Bopara, Sikandar Raza, Bibek Kumar Yadav, Salahuddin Khan |
| Bowlers | Kalim Sana, Usama Mir, Rijan Dhakal, Ranjeet Kumar, Kamal Singh Airee, Mousom Dhakal, Ashok Dhami, Gautam KC |
17 players. Overseas: Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Ravi Bopara (England), Usama Mir (Pakistan), Kalim Sana (Canada).
How They Were Signed
| Player | How signed | Price |
| Kushal Malla | Retained (marquee) | |
| Deepak Bohara | Retained | |
| Dev Khanal | Retained | |
| Arjun Saud | Retained | |
| Ravi Bopara | Retained | |
| Rijan Dhakal | Retained | |
| Ranjeet Kumar | Retained | |
| Kamal Singh Airee | Retained | |
| Sikandar Raza | Marquee signing | |
| Usama Mir | Overseas signing | |
| Kalim Sana | Overseas signing | |
| Bibek Kumar Yadav | Auction | Rs. 15 lakh |
| Mousom Dhakal | Auction | Rs. 3 lakh |
| Bipin Rawal | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Salahuddin Khan | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Ashok Dhami | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
| Gautam KC | Auction | Rs. 2 lakh |
Prices are in Nepali rupees, as listed by the Nepal Premier League.
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Players to Watch
Kushal Malla (c): Nepal's big-hitting batter and the Rhinos' captain and marquee player.
Sikandar Raza: Zimbabwe's star all-rounder, dangerous with the bat and handy with off-spin.
Ravi Bopara: A former England all-rounder with years of T20 league experience.
Usama Mir: A Pakistan leg-spinner who can take wickets in the middle overs.
Kamal Singh Airee: A retained Nepal international who can bowl seam and hit the ball hard.
Bibek Kumar Yadav: The Rhinos' most expensive auction buy at Rs. 15 lakh.
Chitwan Rhinos Fixtures (Nepal Time, UTC, IST and ET)
All matches are at the TU International Cricket Stadium, Kirtipur.
| # | Date | Opponent | Nepal (NPT) | UTC | IST | ET |
| 2 | Tue, Oct 27 | vs Biratnagar Kings | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 2:45 AM |
| 7 | Sat, Oct 31 | vs Lumbini Lions | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 2:45 AM |
| 11 | Mon, Nov 2 | vs Sudurpaschim Royals | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 17 | Fri, Nov 6 | vs Pokhara Avengers | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 20 | Mon, Nov 9 | vs Kathmandu Gurkhas | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 25 | Fri, Nov 13 | vs Janakpur Bolts | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| 27 | Sun, Nov 15 | vs Karnali Yaks | 12:30 PM | 06:45 | 12:15 PM | 1:45 AM |
NPT is Nepal Time (UTC+5:45). IST is India Standard Time (UTC+5:30). ET is US Eastern Time: Daylight Time (UTC-4) until November 1, then Standard Time (UTC-5). In Pakistan, 12:30 PM games start at 11:45 AM and 5:00 PM games at 4:15 PM. Every match starts on the same calendar date in all zones.
The fixture pattern: the Rhinos' games are evenly spread, with at least two rest days between every match. They face the defending champions Lumbini Lions in their second game, and they play on the last day of the league stage (November 15) against Karnali Yaks, so they could go into that game knowing exactly what they need.
Playoffs (If They Qualify)
| Stage | Date | Fixture | Nepal (NPT) | UTC | IST | ET |
| Qualifier 1 | Tue, Nov 17 | 1st vs 2nd | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Eliminator | Wed, Nov 18 | 3rd vs 4th | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Qualifier 2 | Thu, Nov 19 | Loser Q1 vs Winner Eliminator | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
| Final | Sat, Nov 21 | Winner Q1 vs Winner Q2 | 5:00 PM | 11:15 | 4:45 PM | 6:15 AM |
Stat Corner
| Stat | Figure |
| Squad size | 17 |
| Specialist bowlers | 8 |
| Overseas players | 4 |
| Retained players | 8 |
| Marquee players | 2 (Kushal Malla, Sikandar Raza) |
| Most expensive auction buy | Bibek Kumar Yadav, Rs. 15 lakh |
| League matches | 7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in the Chitwan Rhinos squad for NPL 2026?
- Kushal Malla (c), Sikandar Raza, Ravi Bopara, Usama Mir, Kalim Sana and 12 more. The full 17-man list is above.
Who is the Chitwan Rhinos captain?
- Kushal Malla.
Who are Chitwan Rhinos' overseas players?
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), Ravi Bopara (England), Usama Mir (Pakistan) and Kalim Sana (Canada).
When do Chitwan Rhinos play their first match?
- Tuesday, October 27, 2026, against Biratnagar Kings at 12:30 PM Nepal Time (12:15 PM IST).
Where are NPL 2026 matches played?
- All matches are at the TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur.
Related Guides and Series Coverage
📋 Nepal Premier League 2026 Schedule: Full NPL Season 3 Fixtures, Teams and Match Times
📋 Biratnagar Kings Squad and Schedule for NPL 2026
📋 Nepal Premier League 2026 Schedule: Standing
📋 Oman vs Nepal, CWC League Two: Nepal Win by 10 Runs to Climb Into the Top Six