Lumbini Lions
| League | Nepal Premier League |
|---|---|
| Personnel | |
| Captain | Rohit Paudel |
| Owner | Fortuna Health Care |
| Team information | |
| City | Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa), Lumbini Province |
| Colors | Red, gold and black |
| History | |
| Nepal Premier League wins | 1 (2025) |
Lumbini Lions are a professional Nepali cricket team that competes in the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The team represents Lumbini Province, home to Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owned by Fortuna Health Care, the Lions achieved their maiden Nepal Premier League title in December 2025, winning the second season of the tournament.
History
The Lumbini Lions were established as a franchise of the Nepal Premier League to represent Lumbini Province. The team is based in Siddharthanagar (Bhairahawa) and has aimed to combine regional identity with competitive professional cricket. Since their inception, the Lions have focused on developing domestic talent alongside experienced international players.
2025 Nepal Premier League season
League stage and playoffs
During the 2025 Nepal Premier League season, the Lumbini Lions endured a difficult start, winning only one of their first four matches. They later mounted a notable turnaround, winning six consecutive matches to qualify for the playoffs through the Eliminator. The Lions defeated Kathmandu Gorkhas in the Eliminator and Biratnagar Kings in Qualifier 2 to advance to the final.
Final
The final of the 2025 Nepal Premier League was played on 13 December 2025 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. Lumbini Lions faced Sudur Paschim Royals, who had topped the league stage.
Sudur Paschim Royals were dismissed for 85 runs in 19.1 overs.[1] In response, Lumbini Lions chased down the target, scoring 86 runs for the loss of four wickets in nine overs, winning the match by six wickets with 66 balls remaining.
Namibian fast bowler Ruben Trumpelmann was named Player of the Match for figures of three wickets for three runs in 2.1 overs. The victory marked Lumbini Lions’ first Nepal Premier League title.[2][3]
Team identity
Branding
The team logo features a stylised lion’s head symbolising strength, resilience and unity. The branding incorporates cultural elements associated with Lumbini, blending regional heritage with a competitive sporting identity. The team colours are predominantly red, with gold and black accents.
Nickname and slogan
The team is commonly referred to as “the Lions”. Its promotional slogan during the 2025 season was “Rise | Roar | Rule”, and the phrase “Welcome to the Lion’s Den” has been used in official communications.
Players
Squad for the 2025 season
- Rohit Paudel (captain)
- Dilip Nath
- Dinesh Adhikari
- Sundeep Jora
- Abhishesh Gautam
- Sher Malla
- Tilak Bhandari
- Aadil Khan
- Durgesh Gupta
- Sumit Maharjan
- Bishal Patel
- Sameer Ali Musalman
- Thomas Draca
- D’Arcy Short (Australia)
- Niroshan Dickwella (Sri Lanka)
- JJ Smit (Namibia)
- Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia)
- Gulbadin Naib (Afghanistan)
- Movin Subasingha (Sri Lanka)
Key performers (2025)
- Rohit Paudel – Top run-scorer for the team with over 260 runs during the season
- Sher Malla – Leading wicket-taker for the team with 17 wickets
- Ruben Trumpelmann – Player of the Match in the final and Player of the Series
Home ground
The Lumbini Lions’ listed home ground is Extra Tech Oval. The team is based in Siddharthanagar, Lumbini Province, and plays major matches at national venues including the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur.
Ownership and management
The franchise is owned by Fortuna Health Care, part of a Nepali business group with interests in healthcare and related sectors. The ownership has emphasized youth development and professional standards within the team.
== Achievements == [4]
- Nepal Premier League champions: 2025
See also
- Nepal Premier League
- Cricket in Nepal
References
- ↑ [[1](https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/nepal-premier-league-2025-26-1510976/sudur-paschim-royals-npl-vs-lumbini-lions-npl-final-1511008/full-scorecard) "Sudur Paschim Royals vs Lumbini Lions, Final, Nepal Premier League 2025"] Check
|url=value (help). ESPNcricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 2025-12-13. - ↑ [[2](https://kathmandupost.com/cricket/2025/12/13/lumbini-lions-crowned-npl-champions-with-commanding-final-win) "Lumbini Lions crowned NPL champions with commanding final win"] Check
|url=value (help). The Kathmandu Post. 2025-12-13. Retrieved 2025-12-13. - ↑ [[3](https://english.onlinekhabar.com/lumbini-lions-win-npl-season-2.html) "After remarkable turnaround, Lumbini Lions lift NPL Season 2 title"] Check
|url=value (help). OnlineKhabar. 2025-12-13. Retrieved 2025-12-13. - ↑ [[4](https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/lumbini-lions-champions-of-npl-2025) "Lumbini Lions champions of NPL 2025"] Check
|url=value (help). The Himalayan Times. 2025-12-13. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
External links
- Official website
- Lumbini Lions on ESPNcricinfo
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