In the inaugural edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2024, the Chitwan Rhinos, one of the eight teams in the country’s premier T20 tournament, drafted some of the most experienced and exciting homegrown talents.
Also Read: Kushal Malla-led Chitwan Rhinos look to brush aside strong Kathmandu Gurkhas
The Tarai-based team will rely heavily on Nepal's international superstar, Kushal Malla, who is also their captain. The Rhinos will miss Kamal Singh Airee, another of their Nepal international signings, who was ruled out just ahead of the tournament with an injury.
However, the team would also want nothing less than 100 per cent from their other talented domestic players.
Here are the top six homegrown heroes of the Chitwan Rhinos in NPL 2024:
Kushal might be just 20 in terms of age, but he has achieved more than most teenagers in the world of cricket. Having made his debut at the age of 15, the left-handed batter became the youngest half-centurion in world cricket. He is also the fastest centurion for Nepal across white-ball cricket.
More about charismatic Kushal here.
With Kamal Airee not in the squad, Sharad Vesawkar is the second-most-capped Nepal international in the side. The veteran middle-order batter, who can also roll his arm over with off-spin, would now be relied upon to pass on the experience of playing in the country and knowing all the players to his young captain.
The 37-year-old, who made his debut in 2018, has 325 runs in 21 T20Is and four ODIs for the Nepal side. Vesawkar, a man of Indian descent, was born and raised in UAE and started his career as an Under-19 player for the Nepal team.
Rijan Dhakal, the third Nepal international in the side, is a fast bowler who has appeared in three ODIs and six T20Is for the national team. Although he does not have much to show for at the international level, the 25-year-old picked up a five-wicket haul in January 2024 and finished with figures of 5/24. This was when he was playing for Bagmati against Karnali in the Prime Minister Cup 2023-24.
Gautam KC has a similar surname to a more famous and experienced Nepal superstar Karan KC. Though he might be less known, Gautam is on his way to stardom with recent performances. The medium pacer finished with figures of 5/18 in the game for Bagmati.
In his last 10 matches across formats, Gautam has 14 wickets and looks threatening every time he has the ball in hand.
Part of the Nepal Under-19 team that faced cricket heavyweights India and Pakistan at the ACC U-19 tournament, Deepak Bohara is yet another up-and-coming talent from Nepal.
He bowls off-spin as well and is a middle-order batter who would most certainly be a part of the playing 11.
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