When Lumbini Lions finished at the bottom of the table in the first edition of the Nepal Premier League, few would have predicted that twelve months later they would be standing at the very top, trophy in hand, after one of the most dramatic campaigns the tournament has seen.
Under the captaincy of Rohit Paudel, Lumbini's story in NPL Season 2 swung from early doubts to complete domination. They started the season with a win, then slipped to three consecutive defeats, sitting precariously near the bottom again. From there, they stitched together a remarkable run of victories, winning six matches in a row, including the playoffs, to be crowned champions.
“Honestly, this season felt like a suspense movie," Rohit said, after the final. "We won the first game, then lost three in a row. Obviously, everyone felt a bit low. But turning it around from there shows the capacity of this team to handle pressure."
Belief, backing and no doubts – even at 1–3
A big part of Lumbini's transformation, Rohit insists, was the unbroken belief inside the dressing room – even when results were going against them.
“Last season we finished last, but even then nobody in the group created doubts about any player or any coach,” he recalled. "This year, again, after four games we had already lost three. Still, we didn't let doubt creep in. No questioning players, no questioning staff. I think that backing - that trust – is a huge reason why we’re champions now."
In many ways, Lumbini's second season became a deliberate response to the first. Where 2024 felt fragmented, 2025 was about building a strong, unified core.
"As a group we decided: no panic, no blame. Just stick to the process and keep believing. That was the most important part for us in winning this title."
The final: "We wanted to control the game from ball one"
Going into the final against Sudurpaschim Royals, the narrative was stacked against Lumbini. Royals had been the most convincing side in the league phase, winning their first six games and beating Lumbini one-sided earlier in the tournament.
"Sudurpaschim were a very strong and convincing team throughout the league," Rohit admitted. "They looked dominant, and everyone knew they had been in control from the start. But for us, the plan for the final was clear - take control early and don’t let go.”
With Lumbini's bowlers skittling Royals for just 85, and then the chase being blitzed in less than nine overs, the final that many expected to go deep into the second innings turned into a one-way traffic.
"We knew if we used the conditions well with the ball and then batted with intent, the game could become easy for us," he said. "That's exactly what happened. We made the chase of 86 look straightforward because we were very clear about our intent."
Dinesh Adhikari's over: “The message was clear – you charge from ball one"
The turning point of the chase – and perhaps the highlight of the entire final – came in the very first over, when Dinesh Adhikari took on Royals captain Dipendra Singh Airee and smashed 27 runs.
“The plan with Dinesh was very clear," Rohit revealed. “We told him straight: you will charge in the first over. Send a clear message to them and to ourselves. His plan was clear, our message was clear.”
Adhikari's power-hitting showcased what many within the camp already knew – that he was built for big moments.
"In the nets we’ve always seen his raw power and ball-striking," Rohit said. "He hadn't really got a big opportunity like this in a final before, but we all believed he could deliver. When he started with 27 runs in the first over, it made the whole chase feel almost over right there.”
By the time Lumbini brought up 50 in 3.3 overs, the pressure had completely shifted onto Royals. Adhikari’s 42 off 13 balls and the electric start meant everyone in the Lumbini camp could finally begin to feel the title coming closer.
The hat-trick dream in a final
If Adhikari blew the game open with the bat, Rohit himself had already broken it in half with the ball. His spell – 3/12 from 4 overs, including a hat-trick – was the decisive act that took Royals from a fighting position to complete collapse.
"Getting a hat-trick in a final is something you mostly just dream about,” he smiled. “To be honest, when I got the second wicket, the thought of a hat-trick did flicker in my mind, but the focus was still on keeping them to as low a score as possible.”
Royals stumbled from 44/3 to 44/6 in that over, and from there, Lumbini were all over them.
"85 all out in a final – at that moment, I felt like 60-70% of the work was already done," Rohit said. "But still, this is a final, so you cannot relax. It was only after Dinesh and D’Arcy gave that start that we truly felt the job was finished."
From last place to champions: "The feeling when Dilip hit the winning run"
When Dilip Nath nudged the winning run and Lumbini crossed 86, the dugout exploded. For Rohit, the journey from bottom of the table last season to champions this year made the moment even more emotional.
"Last season we finished at the very bottom," he said. "This year, after everything – the losses, the turnaround, the pressure games - to see Dilip score the winning run and the boys rush the ground, it was special. That feeling is hard to describe. Relief, happiness, pride - everything together."
Rohit credits the belief of the management, the backing of the owners, and the unity of the dressing room for keeping the group together through swings of form.
"Team belief and backing are everything," he repeated. "Nobody doubted anyone, even at 1–3. That's why we are here now."
Sher, Trumpelmann, Tilak and the bowling core
Rohit was effusive in his praise for Lumbini’s bowling group, repeatedly highlighting how the combination of Nepali and overseas bowlers gave them the edge on tricky wickets.
"For me, the top performer of the tournament overall has to be Sher Malla," he said. "As a bowler, as a Nepali player, Sher was outstanding. We always knew he had the skill, but this season he added consistency. That’s what took him to the next level."
He also lauded Ruben Trumpelmann, whose new-ball strikes and death bowling were crucial, and Tilak Raj Bhandari, who provided control and breakthroughs through the middle.
"In tournaments like this, you don't win trophies without bowlers," Rohit said. "Ruben, Sher, Tilak, Abhishesh – they were massive for us. They deserve as much credit as anyone."
The captain emphasised that the balance between Nepali and foreign players is what really made Lumbini dangerous.
"Seven Nepali players alone can't win you tournaments, and four overseas players alone can’t win you tournaments,” he explained. “The key is the right mix. This season, the foreign players stood up exactly when we needed them, and the Nepali core held everything together. That balance is why we lifted the trophy."
Handling criticism and staying focused on the team
Rohit has also had to navigate personal scrutiny – including criticism about slow starts or conservative innings in some matches – particularly on social media.
"People will always say things online,” he said calmly. "For me, the only question that matters is: what does the team need from me? If the team wants me to bat at one-down and anchor, I’ll do that. If they want me to attack, I’ll try that too. My focus is simple – help the team win."
He admitted that personal milestones and awards are secondary.
“Individual awards are nice, but my main goal is always the trophy,” he said. “The team has invested in me as captain, and my responsibility is to give everything for that.”
Respect for Dipendra and Sudurpaschim
On the other side of the final, Rohit has deep respect for Sudurpaschim captain Dipendra Singh Airee, a close friend and a rival leader who has now finished runner-up in two consecutive NPL finals.
“Dipendra and I have both tried to lead our teams the best we can,” Rohit said. “They had an excellent season, played very good cricket, and it's just unfortunate for them that it ended this way. I’m sure they’ll come back even stronger.”
A champion’s sign-off
As the celebrations rolled on, Rohit’s message remained quietly grounded: the story is big, but the fundamentals were simple – belief, balance and bowlers.
"From last place to champions in one year is a big story," he said. "But inside the dressing room, it was always about small things: trusting each other, backing every player, and staying calm in pressure moments."
"We've written a beautiful chapter for Lumbini Lions," he added. “Now the challenge is to keep this standard and push even higher – for the franchise, and for Nepali cricket as a whole.”
