The player auction for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket concluded on Saturday in Kathmandu. From the auction, Sudurpaschim Royals signed Hemant Dhami, Tek Bahadur Rawat, and Dipesh Thapa, while from the wish list, they added Dipak Bohara and Milan Bohara. Sudurpachim Royals is the popular and most powerful team in the tournament. Last season’s runners-up, Sudurpaschim, retained last season’s marquee and captain Dipendra Singh Airee as their marquee player.
Out of the list of 164 players in the auction, 37 players were contracted. Sudurpaschim squad_: Dipendra Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Avinash Bohara, Ishan Pandey, Naren Saud, Hemant Dhami, Tek Bahadur Rawat, Dipesh Thapa, Dipak Bohara, Milan Bohara. Dipendra Thapa --------------
All-Rounder
Discussion prompts
- How do you see Dipesh Thapa fitting into the Sudurpaschim Royals squad that already includes Dipendra Singh Airee, Binod Bhandari and Aarif Sheikh?
- Which area (batting, bowling, fielding) should the Royals ask Dipesh Thapa to strengthen most during NPL Season 2?
- Given Sudurpaschim were last season’s runners-up, will the auction signings including Dipesh Thapa be enough to push them from runners-up to champions?
- With 37 players contracted in the mini-auction, which signing do you think offers the biggest immediate impact for Sudurpaschim?
Keep the discussion factual, respectful, and cricket-focused.