Chitwan Rhinos: Charging for the NPL 2025 Title

Published · By Kushma Thapa

The Chitwan Rhinos return for the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025 season with a clear goal: surpassing their strong performance in the inaugural year. The Rhinos, owned by Harish Chandra Neupane and Ayush Neupane (Chitwan Medical College), were a formidable force in NPL 2024.

2024 Performance: Playoff Contenders

In the inaugural NPL season (2024), the Chitwan Rhinos finished the league stage in a commendable 3rd place before entering the playoffs. Their campaign ended in the crucial Eliminator match, where they lost to the Karnali Yaks. This season, they are determined to take the final step and lift the trophy.

2025 Squad Composition: Depth and Experience

The Rhinos secured their 2025 roster with an auction bid of रू1.76 crore (US$130,000), retaining their core local talent while adding high-calibre international experience.

Key Player Movements

  • Players Retained (7):

    • Kushal Malla (Marquee/Captain), Rijan Dhakal, Bipin Rawal, Deepak Bohara, Amar Singh Rautela, Ranjeet Kumar, Kamal Singh Airee (Retained after missing 2024 due to injury)

  • New Local (Nepali) Players (5):

    • Gautam KC, Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud, Bipin Acharya, Saugat Dhakal

  • New Foreign Players (3):

    • Dawid Malan (ENG), Saif Ali Zaib (ENG), Alpesh Ramjani (UGA)

  • Retained Foreign Core:

    • Ravi Bopara (ENG) and Sohail Tanvir (PAK) were crucial to the 2024 campaign and have been retained for 2025.

International Star Power

The Rhinos have assembled a brilliant mix of international veterans and current stars:

  • Dawid Malan (England): A highly-ranked top-order batter known for his consistent run-scoring in T20s.

  • Ravi Bopara (England): Retained for his explosive batting, Bopara was the second-highest run-scorer in the NPL 2024.

  • Sohail Tanvir (Pakistan): The veteran left-arm pacer provides world-class death bowling expertise.

  • Alpesh Ramjani (Uganda): A quality all-rounder who adds variety to the squad.

Leadership and Home Base

The Chitwan Rhinos represent the Chitwan region of Bagmati Province.

Their home ground is the impressive Gautam Buddha Int'l Cricket Stadium.

Key information about the team:

  • Captain/Skipper: The team is led by Marquee Player and explosive all-rounder, Kushal Malla.

  • Head Coach: For 2025, the team is coached by Kalam Ali, taking over from Umesh Patwal.

  • Debut Season: The team made its Nepal Premier League (NPL) debut in 2024.

Roster and Schedule Information

The Rhinos have had a strong start to the NPL 2025 season and are looking good to secure a playoff spot once again.

For the latest updates on the full squad roster and match details, including upcoming fixtures: