The Karnali Yaks team, which acquired marquee player Sompal Kami, generated significant buzz before the Nepal Premier League (NPL). The first highlight was signing young star players like Gulshan Jha and Dev Khanal during the auction. The second, and more sensational, was the acquisition of renowned Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan.
Among the two, Dhawan’s inclusion garnered widespread attention, reaching beyond Nepal to the international stage. The excitement started with news of Dhawan’s signing in India and grew with the anticipation of him playing in Nepal for the first time.
Alongside Dhawan, the team also brought in power-hitter Babar Hayat from Hong Kong, experienced associate player Zeeshan Maqsood, and West Indies veteran Chadwick Walton. With these international stars joining Sompal, Gulshan, and Dev, Karnali Yaks was quickly regarded as a strong contender for the title. Many cricket analysts deemed Karnali a balanced team and one of the top favorites for the championship.
However, Karnali suffered a disappointing 8-wicket loss to Janakpur Bolts in their opening game on Monday. Chasing a target of 142, Janakpur achieved it with ease. Captain Anil Sah led the charge with an impressive 62-run innings, playing aggressive shots in partnership with Asif Sheikh from the start.
While it’s premature to judge a team based on a single game, as Sompal mentioned post-match, Karnali’s performance fell short of expectations, especially considering the pre-tournament hype and their strength on paper. The foreign players, in particular, failed to deliver as expected.
On a pitch that offered assistance to bowlers, Sompal opted to bat first after winning the toss. In previous matches, teams batting first had won despite scoring modest totals.
Much-anticipated player Shikhar Dhawan, who had garnered the most attention, was dismissed for just 14 runs. Chadwick Walton and Zeeshan Maqsood also failed to reach double digits. Babar Hayat, after a brief partnership with Gulshan Jha, fell attempting a big shot. The innings was stabilized by the captain, who helped post a respectable total.
Janakpur, however, faced no significant pressure throughout the chase. Losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, they struck early by dismissing key players like Gulshan and Dhawan cheaply. Walton’s stay at the crease was also brief. Babar Hayat, despite showing promise, was caught while attempting a big hit after playing several dot balls.
Gulshan Jha hit a few big shots, and towards the end, captain Sompal Kami and Arjun Gharti partnered to push Karnali’s score to 141. They targeted bowlers Harsh Thaker and Jimmy Neesham during the final overs.
Janakpur’s bowlers were disciplined, with Lalit Rajbanshi taking a wicket in the very first over and Thaker claiming Dhawan’s wicket, putting Karnali under pressure. Karnali continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and never dominated the game, eventually settling for 141 runs. Post-match, Sompal admitted their target was 160-170, which they couldn’t achieve.
Defending 141, Karnali needed a tight bowling performance but conceded 16 runs in the very first over by Nandan Yadav. Janakpur openers Asif Sheikh and Anil Sah built an 84-run partnership, laying the foundation for an easy victory.
When asked about the underwhelming performance of foreign players, Sompal emphasized not judging players or teams based on a single game. He expressed confidence in improving their performance in upcoming matches by better understanding the pitches. Sompal also praised Janakpur’s bowlers and the two openers for their impressive showing.
With this win, Janakpur secured their second consecutive victory, strengthening their claim for a playoff spot. While other teams’ batting has appeared inconsistent, Janakpur has shown a different level of performance, adjusting well to varying pitches. Lahiru Milantha’s big shots and captain Anil’s aggressive starts have been key to their success.
If this form continues, Janakpur seems set to secure a playoff berth with ease. Karnali, on the other hand, can bounce back with a strong comeback if they get dependable performances from their foreign players and avoid succumbing to pressure while bowling.
Janakpur will play their third game against Pokhara Avengers on Thursday, while Karnali faces Kathmandu Gurkhas, who lost to Chitwan Rhinos in their first game, on Wednesday.
