Sudurpaschim Royals have now finished top of the Nepal Premier League table in both seasons of its existence. They have also lost both finals.
The league stage belongs to them
In 2024 they finished on 12 points. In 2025 they finished on 12 points again — six wins from seven, and the best net run rate in the competition at 0.832. No other franchise has topped the table even once.
And then the final arrives
Janakpur Bolts took the 2024 title. Lumbini Lions took 2025, chasing down Sudurpaschim's total in the final with six wickets in hand. Both times the side that had been demonstrably the best over seven weeks lost the game that decided the season.
Why it keeps happening
Their bowling is the reason they win leagues. Sudurpaschim have taken 134 wickets — more than any other franchise — at an economy of 7.05. That is a machine built for a long campaign, where pressure compounds across matches.
A final does not compound. It is one innings, and one innings rewards the side that can produce a single outlier performance. Lumbini found one. Janakpur found one.
The uncomfortable conclusion
There is nothing to fix. A team that wins six of seven is not doing anything wrong. The knockout format simply does not reward what Sudurpaschim are best at, and no amount of league-stage dominance buys immunity from a bad ninety minutes.
They will start 2026 as favourites again. That is the problem.
