MATCH PREVIEW
Follow UsChitwan Rhinos will take on Kathmandu Gurkhas at the TU International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Monday, December 2 (Monday), in their opening match of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024. This will be an early fixture, getting underway at 8.45 AM IST. As a result, the toss will play a key role, as the side winning the toss could very well win the game as well. Despite this, the crowd in Nepal will never disappoint you, with thousands expected to throng the stadium once again.
There will be plenty in it for the bowlers, especially the fast bowlers early on. That reflects on the stats as well. In T20s since 2024, 56% of the wickets have been picked up by the fast bowlers, while 44% have fallen to the spinners.
With the conditions expected to favour pace, they have the experienced Sohail Tanvir, who can make early inroads, with fellow left-arm pacer Rijan Dhakal or even 26-year-old Dipesh Shreshta, who has the experience of playing in plenty of domestic T20 tournaments.
And how can you even forget their skipper, Kushal Malla? The young skipper has made giant strides in international records, setting records left, right, and centre.
Learn more about the leader of the Rhinos, Kushal Malla, here
Add the experience of Ravi Bopara and Nicol Loftie-Eaton, who not only can chip in with the ball but have also proven to be reliable batters. In fact, it was in February this year, incidentally, at the TU Ground, that Loftie-Eaton played one of the best T20I innings, smashing a then-record 33-ball century. He would certainly have fond memories of this ground.
Know all about the Chitwan Rhinos overseas players here
What should Chitwan Rhinos be wary of?
Their opponents, the Kathmandu Gurkhas, could be quite a handful, given the roster at their disposal. Karan KC, their marquee player and captain, will certainly be a thorn in their flesh and is someone who can make the best of the conditions with his swing bowling. In Gerhard Erasmus, the Gurkhas certainly have a solid middle-order batter and also someone who could be a handy wicket-taker with his off-spin bowling. In fact, over 30% of his ODI wickets have come at the TU Cricket Ground.
Other than them, keep a look out for Nathan Sowter, a handy leg-break bowler, Netherlands' attacking opener Michael Levitt, and Nepal's very own Jonty Rhodes, Bhim Sharki, among others.
It certainly promises to be a riveting contest, with both teams looking to get off the mark. The absence of Kamal Singh Airee and Marchant de Lange will be a blow, but the Rhinos have enough in their tanks to come out on top.
Squads
Chitwan Rhinos: Deepak Bohara, Hassan Eisakhil, Kushal Malla (c), Sharad Vesawkar, Amar Routela, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Luc Benkenstein, Manish Pun, Ravi Bopara, Salahuddin Khan, Bipin Rawal (wk), Santosh Karki, Dipesh Shrestha, Gautam KC, Ranjit Kumar, Rijan Dhakal, Sohail Tanvir
Kathmandu Gurkhas: Bhim Sharki, Michael Levitt, Shankar Rana, Sumit Maharjan, Daniel Douthwaite, Dipesh Kandel, Gerhard Erasmus (vc), Karan KC (c), Krish Karki, Pratik Shrestha, Raju Rijal (wk), Stephen Eskinazi (wk), Bibek KC, Krishna Karki, Nathan Sowter, Rashid Khan, Shahab Alam
You can make your fantasy team for all Chitwan Rhinos matches and also for other matches in the NPL 2024 right here on Cricket.com. Download the app now.
