Follow UsSandeep Lamichhane remains the only cricketer from Nepal to have featured in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The legspinner turned out for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 2018 and 2019 editions, where he played nine matches across two seasons, picking up 13 wickets at an average of 22.5 and an economy rate of 8.3. While his stint was short, it opened the doors for Nepal cricket to one of the biggest stages in world cricket.
Things, however, could look very different by the time IPL 2026 arrives. Nepal have been making significant strides in T20 cricket over the last few years, consistently punching above their weight on the international stage. The emergence of a talented new crop of players has further strengthened their case, with several of them looking ready to make the leap to the IPL.
Here’s a closer look at three exciting names from Nepal who could potentially break into the IPL in 2026.
At 25, Dipendra Singh Airee has already established himself as the heartbeat of Nepal’s batting line-up. A proven match-winner, Airee has scored 1823 runs in 71 T20I innings at an impressive average of 33.15 and a strike rate of 141.1. Airee also holds the world record for the fastest fifty in T20Is, reaching the landmark in just 9 balls. To add to his reputation, he has also joined the elite club of batters who have hit six sixes in an over.
But Airee is far from a one-dimensional player. With 52 T20I wickets at an economy of just 6.3, he offers genuine bowling depth and variety. In a format where multi-dimensional players are prized assets, Airee ticks every box. Add to that his exceptional fielding, as he is widely regarded as one of Nepal’s best athletes on the field.
Basir Ahamad is still relatively new on the scene but has already caught the attention of a lot of people in Nepal. A left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder, Basir had a breakthrough season in the Nepal Premier League 2024, where he scored 181 runs at an average of 36.2 and a strike rate of 123.1, while also picking up six wickets at an economy rate of 6.5.
Although he made his T20I debut for Nepal back in 2022, Basir’s real rise came with his comeback to the national side in 2025, where he showcased a far more refined game. Against Qatar, he played a composed innings of 30 in a tricky run chase, before following it up with a blistering 43-ball 80 against Kuwait - an innings that underlined his ability to adapt to situations and also dominate when required. What makes Basir special is his game awareness. He has the temperament to anchor an innings when wickets are tumbling, but can also accelerate when the situation demands.
If Nepal cricket has found a potential game-changer for the future, it is in the form of Nandan Yadav. The young fast-bowling all-rounder has made an instant impact in the limited opportunities he has had so far. In just five T20Is, Nandan has picked up eight wickets at an outstanding average of 16.62, while also scoring 49 runs at a staggering strike rate of 272.22. That combination - a seam bowler who can launch sixes at the death - is exactly what modern T20 teams crave.
Nandan has also been gaining valuable experience overseas, currently featuring in the Top End T20 Series in Australia. In nine competitive T20s in 2025, he has scored at an average of 32.5 while maintaining a phenomenal strike rate of 224.1. With the ball, he has picked up 16 wickets at an economy rate of 7.7.