Defending champions Lumbini Lions meet winless Pokhara Avengers in the 13th match of the Nepal Premier League 2026 on Tuesday, 3 November 2026, in the evening fixture at Kirtipur. It is a sharp contrast in early-season form: Lumbini arrive as champions with points already on the board, while Pokhara are still searching for a first win after a difficult start.
Lumbini captain Rohit Paudel will expect his side to use that experience and home-ground familiarity, while Pokhara captain Kushal Bhurtel will look to his overseas stars, including Shakib Al Hasan, to turn a promising squad into a first victory.
Match Overview
Lumbini Lions take on Pokhara Avengers in Match 13 of the Nepal Premier League 2026. Lumbini are the defending champions, and Pokhara are winless, which gives the evening game at Kirtipur a clear storyline: can the champions extend their strong start, or can Pokhara finally get off the mark? The match follows the daytime Biratnagar vs Janakpur game at the same ground, so the pitch will have had a full match of wear by the time this game starts under lights.
Date, Time and Venue
The match is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at 4:15 PM IST, which is 5:00 PM Nepal time. It will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. With sunset at about 5:18 PM Nepal time, the second half of the game will be played under lights, which can change how the ball moves and how the spinners grip the ball.
Probable Playing XIs and Squads
Lumbini Lions probable XI, picked from their squad core: Rohit Paudel (captain), Niroshan Dickwella, Aasif Sheikh, D’Arcy Short, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ruben Trumpelmann, Sundeep Jora and other squad members to be confirmed at the toss. This is a probable XI, not a confirmed team.
Pokhara Avengers probable XI, picked from their squad core: Kushal Bhurtel (captain), Shakib Al Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Arjun Kumal and other squad members to be confirmed at the toss. This is a probable XI, not a confirmed team.
Lumbini’s squad core is Rohit Paudel, Niroshan Dickwella, Aasif Sheikh, D’Arcy Short, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Ruben Trumpelmann and Sundeep Jora. Pokhara’s squad core is Kushal Bhurtel, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahedi Hasan, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan and Arjun Kumal. Shakib’s all-round experience is Pokhara’s biggest asset, while Paudel’s leadership and Lumbini’s batting depth are their main strengths.
Head-to-Head and Recent Form
Before today, Lumbini were third in the early standings with one win and one no-result, for three points, while Pokhara had lost their early matches, including a nine-run defeat to Janakpur Bolts on 1 November. That context, and only that context, is used here, and no other recent result or head-to-head record is invented. Lumbini therefore start as the more settled side, but Pokhara have match-winners who can change a T20 quickly if they fire together.
Pitch and Weather Report
Kirtipur is expected to offer a balanced surface, with early help for pacers and more assistance for spinners later in the innings. The average first-innings total at this ground in the NPL is 157, while the average second-innings total is 137, per the CricketWorld preview. As the second match of the day at the same ground, the surface may slow a little, which should bring spin into play in the second innings. Weather in Kirtipur on 3 November is expected to be mostly sunny and partly cloudy, with a high of about 24 degrees Celsius and a low of about 13 degrees Celsius, and only about a 10 percent chance of rain.
Where to Watch and Live Streaming
In India, the Nepal Premier League is streamed on FanCode. In Nepal, the match is shown on Himalaya TV, and the NetTV app carries coverage worldwide. Check local listings on match day for any change to the broadcast schedule, and follow live scores if you cannot watch the stream.
Further reading:https://sportmaax.com/lumbini-vs-sudurpaschim-npl-2026/
Also read our Biratnagar vs Janakpur preview:https://sportmaax.com/biratnagar-vs-janakpur-npl-12th-match/
FAQs
When is Lumbini Lions vs Pokhara Avengers, 13th Match? Tuesday, 3 November 2026, at 4:15 PM IST (5:00 PM Nepal time).
Where is the match played? Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur.
Who are the captains? Rohit Paudel captains Lumbini Lions and Kushal Bhurtel captains Pokhara Avengers.
Who are the key players to watch? Rohit Paudel, D’Arcy Short and Ruben Trumpelmann for Lumbini, and Shakib Al Hasan, Kushal Bhurtel and Mahedi Hasan for Pokhara.
Where can I watch the match live? On FanCode in India, on Himalaya TV in Nepal, and on the NetTV app worldwide.
Summary and Conclusion
Lumbini Lions vs Pokhara Avengers is a champions-versus-winless contest that should be more competitive than the early table suggests. Lumbini have the form, the points and the balanced squad, but Pokhara have the individual quality, led by Shakib Al Hasan, to cause an upset under lights at Kirtipur. The side that handles the second innings, when the pitch may slow and spin matters more, should take Match 13.
