David Warner leads the Gorkhas with 127 runs at 42.33, while Brandon McMullen has 124 runs at a strike rate of 167.57 for the Royals. The Gorkhas top the table on eight points after four wins in five games, but the Royals arrive with a 2-0 head-to-head record. Rashid Khan, Sahan Arachchige and Dipendra Singh Airee shape the contest around those two names. Match 24 on 13 November puts the table leaders against a side that has won both previous meetings.
Warner Sets the Pace at the Top
Warner has 127 runs from four innings at an average of 42.33 and a strike rate near 141, and he opens with Sahil Patel. His season began with 66 off 50 balls when the Gorkhas batted first against Lumbini, at a rate of 132 per hundred balls, followed by an unbeaten 44 in a chase against Biratnagar. The other 16 runs came in an earlier innings.
His latest outing was the exception: one run off six balls against Chitwan on 9 November, batting first. It hurt little, since the Gorkhas still sit first on eight points from four wins and one loss, with a net run rate of +1.168. Of his three innings with known details, two came batting first and one in a chase. Warner remains the opener, and nothing points to a change at the top.
Gorkhas vs Royals NPL 2026 Batters to Watch
Rashid Khan has about 120 runs from innings of 67, 1, and 52, an average of 30 and a strike rate of 150. Warner and Rashid together account for roughly 247 runs, which makes Rashid the second pillar of the Gorkhas run chart. His 67 is the highest single score of the group.
Arachchige has the best figures on the sheet: an average of 67 and a strike rate of 191.43, the sharpest rate among the six batters below. McMullen, Zaib and Airee supply the Royals side of the comparison. Their averages sit between 15 and 25, well under Warner and Arachchige, though McMullen’s strike rate is higher than Warner’s or Rashid’s.
| Batter | Team | Batting Average | Strike Rate |
| David Warner | Kathmandu Gorkhas | 42.33 | 141.11 |
| Rashid Khan | Kathmandu Gorkhas | 30.00 | 150.00 |
| Sahan Arachchige | Kathmandu Gorkhas | 67.00 | 191.43 |
| Brandon McMullen | Sudurpaschim Royals | 24.80 | 167.57 |
| Saif Zaib | Sudurpaschim Royals | 15.33 | 118.84 |
| Dipendra Singh Airee | Sudurpaschim Royals | 22.25 | 112.66 |
McMullen and Airee Lead the Challenge
McMullen has 124 runs from five innings at an average of 24.80. His scores have swung wildly: 2 off 2 balls against Lumbini, 43 off 21 against Chitwan in a chase, and 24 off 16 against Karnali. When he stays, he scores fast, and his strike rate of 167.57 is the highest of the Royals trio.
Airee has 90 runs at 22.25, including 27 off 23 against Lumbini and an unbeaten 51 off 36 in the Pokhara chase. As captain, he sets the tempo for the middle order. Zaib adds 92 runs from six innings, with 35 off 24 against Karnali his best. His average of 15.33 is the lowest of the trio, which makes that 35 look more like an exception.
Head-to-Head Record Favours Sudurpaschim
The Royals lead the series 2-0. They won by 73 runs in 2024 and by 29 runs in 2025, so the gap narrowed from one season to the next. A win on 13 November would cut the series to 2-1 for the Gorkhas.
Their batting this season has been uneven. They managed only 87 batting first against Lumbini, yet reached 176 for 6 against Karnali, and they have chased against both Pokhara and Chitwan. Two totals that far apart show how much the innings swings from one night to the next.
Standings and the Kirtipur Venue
The Gorkhas are first with four wins and one loss, and Match 24 gives them a chance to extend that lead at the Tribhuvan University ground in Kirtipur on 13 November. A fifth win would move them to ten points. The net run rate of +1.168 shows they have not scraped through the rest.
Match 24 will hinge on the first six overs: whether Warner and Patel can set a platform, and whether McMullen can match it from the other side. The Gorkhas vs Royals NPL 2026 batters to watch list starts with Warner at the top and runs through to Airee, the Royals captain.
Will Warner or McMullen decide Friday’s contest? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is the top run-scorer for the Gorkhas in NPL 2026?
David Warner leads the Gorkhas with 127 runs. He scored them in four innings at an average of 42.33, ahead of Rashid Khan, who has about 120.
Who captains the Sudurpaschim Royals in NPL 2026?
Dipendra Singh Airee captains the Royals. He has 90 runs this season at an average of 22.25, including an unbeaten 51 off 36 balls in a chase against Pokhara.
Is David Warner playing for the Kathmandu Gorkhas?
Yes, Warner opens the batting for the Gorkhas. He partners Sahil Patel and has scored 127 runs in four innings this season at an average of 42.33.
Where is Match 24 of NPL 2026 being played?
Match 24 is at the Tribhuvan University cricket ground in Kirtipur. It starts on 13 November, with the Gorkhas first in the table on eight points.
Where do the Gorkhas stand in the NPL 2026 table?
The Gorkhas are first in the table. They have four wins and one loss for eight points, with a net run rate of +1.168 after the games of 9 November.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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