NPL, Biratnagar kings vs Chitwan Rhinos Match prediction, Preview, Pitch Report, Players to Watch Out

The Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025 is getting more exciting as the in-form Biratnagar Kings face the Chitwan Rhinos in Match 12 at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Biratnagar kings wants to carry a momentum strengthen their position on the top, while Chitwan Rhinos will look to Bounce back after defeat in second game and gain momentum again.

The Biratnagar Kings have been one of the strongest teams in the second edition ,They are currently placed second on the points table with three impressive wins. Throughout the tournament, their most recent victory, a close nine-run win over the Kathmandu . Even though they had only 135 runs to defend, they managed to hold their nerve and pull off a thrilling win. The Kings look settled and balanced. They are unlikely to change a team combination that has been working well for them. At the top of the order, Martin Guptill provides world-class experience and stability. Alongside him, Lokesh Bam  and George Munsey has been , scoring runs freely and giving Biratnagar strong starts.

In the middle order, Basir Ahamad plays the role of an anchor, holding the innings together, while Shubham Ranjane adds firepower with aggressive stroke play. Their bowling lineup is their main strength. Marchant de Lange brings raw pace and aggression with new ball also in death overs, while Sandeep Lamichhane  He currently leads the wicket-taking chart with seven wickets, showing great consistency and leadership.

On the other hand Chitwan Rhinos have had an mixed season so far. They are placed fifth on the table with one win and one loss. At times, they have looked like a well-rounded side capable of beating strong teams, but at other moments, they have struggled to show discipline and control. Their first match of the season, a win against the Karnali Yaks, showed their potential especially their ability to chase under pressure. However, their next game was disappointing, as they lost by six wickets to the Lumbini Lions. That match showed weaknesses in their bowling, particularly in the middle overs and during the death overs, where they conceded too many runs.

the Rhinos, the form of their top order remains a concern Dawid Malan and Dev khanal struggled to find rhythm. Captain Kushal Malla has been getting starts but needs to convert them into bigger scores that can influence match results. However, the biggest positive for Chitwan is Ravi Bopara has been in superb touch, scoring half-centuries in back-to-back games. If he continues his excellent form, Chitwan will have a real chance to challenge Biratnagar.

Their bowling attack, led by  Sohail Tanvir and Raijan Dhakal, must show more discipline especially in the final overs. In their previous match, they gave away too many runs at the end, which proved costly.

Biratnagar kings vs Chitwan Rhinos Head to Head Records in NPL

Total matches played: 1

Biratnagar kings won: 1

Chitwan Rhinos won : 0

No Results: 0

Pitch Report 

We have seen surface at Tribhuvan University International Cricket Stadium , in 11 matches Batting first team won 6 matches while 5 matches won Batting second, as the game progresses wickets slow down and spinners find some grip and turn and batting getting difficult, Average around 160-165 could be competitive total, teams winning the toss and Opted to bat first.

Probable playing XIs 

Lumbini Lions

George Munsey, Lokesh Bam (wk), Martin Guptil,  Basir Ahamad,Shubham Ranjane, Narayan Joshi, Sandeep Lamichhane (c), Merchant de Lange, Pratis Gc, Surya Tamang, Naren Bhatta

Chitwan Rhinos

Deepak Bohara, Dawid Malan, Dev khanal, Ravi Bopara , Kushal Malla (c), Saif Zaib, Arjun Saud (wk), Raijan Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee, , Ranjit Kumar, Sohail Tanvir

Player to watch out 

Sandeep Lamichhane :  has been outstanding this season. He is the top wicket-taker with 7 wickets in just 3 matches. His brilliant spell of 4/11 against the Janakpur Bolts showed that he is back to his best, controlling the middle overs an trouble batter.

Ravi Bopara :  has been the main strength of the Rhinos batting lineup. He has scored 118 runs in only 2 innings, including two back-to-back half-centuries. His calm approach and huge experience help the team rebuild and finish strong, making him a key player for Chitwan.

Lokesh Bam : has been a breakout performer, scoring 114 runs with a strike rate of 135.71. His attacking style gives Biratnagar brisk and confident starts.

Prediction

Biratnagar kings are slightly favourites with momentum in both batting and bowling while Chitwan Rhinos if their top order clicks then it could be close contest.