Janakpur Bolts face Sudurpaschim Royals in a decisive Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2026 league fixture at Kirtipur, with Janakpur desperately needing points to stay in the playoff race and Sudurpaschim looking to turn their late-season momentum into a top-two finish. The Royals arrive with back-to-back wins, while the Bolts have lost two straight matches, making this a high-pressure evening under lights.
The fixture is officially listed as the 21st match of NPL 2026, with Kirtipur’s TU International Cricket Ground hosting the day-night game. Some live-score listings show a slightly different start time, but the commonly published schedule places the first ball at 4:30 PM local time.
Kirtipur has generally offered a balanced T20 surface this season. The average first-innings total at the ground in NPL matches is around 157, although broader venue data places it closer to 145, which suggests batters need to build an innings rather than simply swing from the first ball.
Spinners should have a major role once the ball becomes older, particularly in the middle overs. A first-innings target of roughly 150–160 is likely to be competitive, and the side winning the toss may prefer to bowl first because chasing has held a slight edge at this venue.
The weather forecast is favourable for a full match: partly cloudy conditions, a temperature near 10°C, high humidity around 93 percent, and only a very small chance of rain. Evening dew could make gripping the ball harder later in the innings, so captains may want to bowl first.
This is effectively a must-win game for Janakpur. The Bolts sit fifth with four points from five matches, and another defeat would leave them with only two points from seven games, severely damaging their hopes of reaching the top four.
Sudurpaschim, by contrast, are third with six points from five matches. A third consecutive win would strengthen their playoff position and keep them in contention for a higher finish, with two league matches still remaining after this one.
Match details
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Match: Janakpur Bolts vs Sudurpaschim Royals, 21st Match
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League / Season: Nepal Premier League (NPL), Season 3, 2026
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Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026
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Time: 4:30 PM Nepal Time (NPT) / 5:00 PM Indian Standard Time (IST)
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Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, Kathmandu
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Format: Twenty20, day-night match
Live Streaming Info:
NPL 2026 will be live: JAB vs SPR
Live Score Info:
Cricket lovers can watch the Janakpur Bolts vs Sudur Paschim Royals live score on this website: nplt20league.com.
The stakes create an interesting contrast: Sudurpaschim have confidence and momentum, while Janakpur have the greater urgency. That pressure can either sharpen a team’s performance or expose its batting frailties, especially in a chase under lights.
Current form
Sudurpaschim have won three and lost two of their five matches. Their recent run includes a five-wicket win over Chitwan Rhinos and a 39-run victory over Karnali Yaks, giving them clear momentum heading into this contest.
Janakpur began the season with a 19-run defeat to Karnali, then responded strongly by beating Kathmandu Gorkhas by eight wickets and Pokhara Avengers by nine runs. However, narrow losses to Biratnagar Kings by two runs and Lumbini Lions by 16 runs have put them on the back foot.
The Bolts’ problem has been converting competitive positions into wins. Their two-run defeat to Biratnagar, in particular, will sting because it showed that their batting has the ability to challenge strong totals but has not consistently finished the job.
Head-to-head
Sudurpaschim Royals hold the historical advantage. The teams have met four times in previous NPL editions, with Sudurpaschim winning three and Janakpur winning one.
| Meeting | Result |
|---|---|
| Most recent completed meeting, 29 November 2025 | Sudurpaschim Royals beat Janakpur Bolts by 6 wickets |
| Earlier NPL meeting | Sudurpaschim Royals won by 72 runs |
| Another previous NPL meeting | Sudurpaschim Royals won by 6 wickets |
| Remaining previous NPL meeting | Janakpur Bolts won |
| 21st Match, 10 November 2026 | To be played |
Sudurpaschim have won three of the last four completed meetings, including a six-wicket win in their most recent encounter in November 2025. Janakpur’s solitary head-to-head win means they cannot rely on history; they need a much stronger batting performance than in their last two matches.
Sudurpaschim Royals analysis
Sudurpaschim’s biggest strength is their balance. Dipendra Singh Airee leads a side with experienced domestic performers and useful overseas options, while Brandon McMullen, Saif Zaib, Scott Kuggeleijn and Tharindu Ratnayake give the squad flexibility across departments.
With the bat, Ishan Pandey has been their leading scorer with 92 runs in five matches. McMullen has added 91 runs in four innings, while Airee and Saif Zaib have also contributed, giving the Royals several players capable of accelerating in the middle and death overs.
Their bowling looks particularly suited to Kirtipur. Anil Kharel leads the wicket charts with seven scalps, while Airee and Hemant Dhami have provided support. If the pitch slows, their spinners can squeeze Janakpur’s middle order and force risky shots.
The main concern is consistency at the top. Sudurpaschim’s batting has enough depth, but they cannot afford a poor powerplay if Janakpur’s experienced attack gets early breakthroughs.
Janakpur Bolts analysis
Janakpur possess a powerful squad on paper. Harmeet Singh captains a group featuring Moeen Ali, James Neesham, Iftikhar Ahmed, Saif Hassan, Kusal Perera and Lalit Rajbanshi, giving them experience, power-hitting and bowling variety.
Saif Hassan has been Janakpur’s most reliable batter, scoring 140 runs in four matches. Trit Raj Das has added 92 runs in five games, while Neesham and Harmeet provide stability and finishing ability in the middle order.
With the ball, Rahul Yadav has been their leading wicket-taker with eight wickets, and Harmeet has taken seven. Lalit Rajbanshi’s left-arm spin will be important in the middle overs, especially against Sudurpaschim’s aggressive batting lineup.
Janakpur’s weakness is execution under pressure. They have lost tight matches and have not always paced chases well. If their top order fails again, the burden on Neesham, Moeen and Harmeet could become too heavy.
Probable playing XIs
Probable XI: Kusal Perera, Trit Raj Das, Saif Hassan, James Neesham, Moeen Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Harmeet Singh, Lalit Rajbanshi, Rahul Yadav, Bikash Aagri, Hunain Shah
Probable XI: Binod Bhandari, Saif Zaib, Brandon McMullen, Dipendra Singh Airee, Ishan Pandey, Aarif Sheikh, Tharindu Ratnayake, Scott Kuggeleijn, Anil Kharel, Hemant Dhami, Abinash Bohara
These are predicted lineups rather than confirmed teams, as both sides were expected to name their XIs at the toss.
Key players
For Sudurpaschim, Brandon McMullen and Dipendra Singh Airee are the players to watch. McMullen’s ability to score quickly in the middle overs, combined with Airee’s all-round influence, could decide the match. Anil Kharel is also crucial with the ball, particularly if Janakpur’s batters try to force the pace after the powerplay.
For Janakpur, Saif Hassan must continue his strong form at the top. James Neesham and Moeen Ali bring valuable T20 experience, while Rahul Yadav and Harmeet Singh need to make early inroads because Sudurpaschim’s batting depth can punish an attack that leaks runs.
Sudurpaschim Royals start as slight favourites. They have better current form, a stronger head-to-head record, more balance in their bowling attack and the confidence of two straight wins.
Janakpur, however, have enough firepower to turn the game around if their top order fires. Their overseas core of Moeen Ali, Neesham, Iftikhar Ahmed and Harmeet Singh gives them a higher ceiling than their results suggest, but they must bat with far more clarity in the middle overs.
A competitive total around 155–170 should be par at Kirtipur. If Janakpur bat first, they will need at least one substantial partnership; if they chase, their experienced middle order will need to handle Sudurpaschim’s spinners. On form, conditions and squad balance, Sudurpaschim Royals are the safer pick, though Janakpur are capable of an upset if their senior players deliver.