Ready to perform well with local players in NPL: Shikhar Dhawan (photos)

KATHMANDU: Indian cricket star Shikhar Dhawan has arrived in Nepal to play in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) for Karnali Yaks, owned by Himalayan Builders & Engineers.

Dhawan expressed his excitement about playing in the league and collaborating with local players to showcase his skills.

Upon his arrival, Dhawan was warmly welcomed by Karnali Yaks’ owner, Janak Datta Khanal, and co-owner, Grihendra Ghimire. Dhawan shared his excitement, saying, “Namaste Nepal, I am very happy to be here. Karnali Yaks has given me a wonderful welcome, and I’m thrilled to play in the NPL with them. I look forward to sharing my experience and performing well with the local players.”

Karnali Yaks has also signed several other key players for the NPL, including West Indies’ Chadwick Walton, Hong Kong’s Babar Hayat, and Oman’s former captain Jisn Muksud. Nepali players in the squad include Sompal Kami, Gulshan Jha, Dev Khanal, Nandan Yadav, Arjun Gharti, Rit Gautam, and Bhuwan Karki, along with young talents from the Talent Hunt program like Bipin Prasad Sharma. The team also appointed Nepali actress Swastima Khadka as the ‘Face of Karnali Yaks’ and youth ambassador Sisan Baniya. Hilton Hotel serves as their hospitality partner.

Dhawan, a 38-year-old left-handed opener, has had an illustrious career with the Indian national team and has played for several IPL teams, including Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful players in world cricket. Dhawan led Sunrisers Hyderabad to an IPL title in 2016 and helped India win the ACC Asia Cup.

While in Nepal, Dhawan plans to visit the Pashupatinath Temple and also hopes to attempt scaling Mount Everest. He emphasized the importance of experience-sharing between seasoned players and Nepal’s upcoming talent, saying, “It’s great for new players to learn from experienced cricketers. It will create a different atmosphere and boost the morale of young players.”

Dhawan also shared that his decision to come to Nepal was made possible after his retirement from international cricket. “Until retirement, international players are not allowed to play outside their domestic leagues. I had never visited Nepal before, and since we share common language and have many Nepali friends, I thought this was the perfect opportunity.”