The duel between Sudurpaschim Royals and Janakpur Bolts is what everyone is looking forward to in the Nepal Premier League 2025.
The venue for the encounter will be TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, which is currently known for being the site of most of the most thrilling NPL matches. The venue has already emerged as one of the best for cricket matches and thus providing an opportunity for the cricketing world to see the finest.
This face-off between the teams occupying the top and bottom positions of the table will have their own unique stories told, with the yet to lose Sudurpaschim looking to broaden their rule and the yet to win Janakpur striving for their initial success in the league. The teams have their different methods of attaining victory in what may well turn out to be a crucial match in deciding the paths of both franchises through the tournament.
Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
- Matches Played: 3
- Sudurpaschim Royals Won: 2
- Janakpur Bolts Won: 1
Match Details
Details: Janakpur Bolts vs Sudur Paschim Royals, 18th Match
Venue: Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Date and Time: 29NOV–3:45 PM
Pitch Report
Bowlers at Kirtipur do get some help from the pitch, especially the seamers who take advantage of the slight movement that the moist soil creates. But a well-equipped batsman can still contribute to the team’s score, and the total score will be nice. The first innings’ average score for this ground is 150, which is expected to be the least for this match.
Match Analysis: Sudurpaschim Royals vs Janakpur Bolts
Sudurpaschim Royals’ Strengths
Table-topping Sudurpaschim boast an unbeaten record with four consecutive victories, establishing tournament dominance. Binod Bhandari’s 123 runs provide explosive batting firepower and consistent run-scoring ability. Harmeet Singh’s exceptional nine-wicket haul leads the bowling charts, offering match-winning spin control. Their comfortable seven-wicket victory against Lumbini demonstrates clinical chasing ability and comprehensive team balance throughout competitions.
Sudurpaschim Royals’ Weaknesses
Despite their perfect record, over-reliance on Bhandari’s batting creates potential vulnerability against quality attacks. Harmeet Singh’s bowling dominance masks inconsistent support from fellow bowlers, risking exposure during tight encounters. Their untested resilience under pressure situations remains questionable given no defeats yet. Complacency could emerge from sustained success, potentially causing unexpected lapses against desperate opposition seeking breakthrough victories.
Janakpur Bolts’ Strengths
Despite bottom position, Janakpur possess individual talent capable of match-turning performances. Aasif Sheikh’s 67 runs provide opening stability and foundational batting contributions. Wayne Parnell’s fighting 50 against Pokhara demonstrates lower-order resilience and never-say-die attitude. Sanjay Krishnamurthy’s four wickets offer bowling hope and wicket-taking capability, suggesting potential for competitive performances with collective improvement.
Janakpur Bolts’ Weaknesses
Winless Janakpur’s three consecutive losses expose severe team deficiencies and competitive inadequacies. Their catastrophic collapse to 37/5 against Pokhara reveals fragile batting lineup and early-order capitulations. Aasif Sheikh’s modest 67-run tally indicates top-order failures and insufficient contributions from key batsmen. Weak bowling partnerships beyond Krishnamurthy and inability to defend modest totals highlight comprehensive team struggles requiring urgent intervention.
Predicted Playing 11s
Janakpur Bolts: Aasif Sheikh (c, wk), Anil Kumar Sah, Lahiru Milanth, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Imran Tahir, Wayne Parnell, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kishore Mahato, Shubh Kansakar, Mayan Yadav, Sachin Bhatt
Sudurpaschim Royals: Sompal Kami (C), Deepak Dumre (WK), Arjun Gharti, Bipin Sharma, Unish Singh, Pawan Sarraf, Imran Shekh, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Rawat, Yuvraj Khatri, Mohammad Aadil Alam
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