Player details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Arjun Saud |
| Birthplace | Dhangadi, Nepal |
| Country | Nepal |
| Playing role | Wicketkeeper |
| Batting style | Right-hand bat |
| NPL team (Season 3) | Chitwan Rhinos |
| Joined | Retained |
Season 3 numbers
Batting — Season 3
| Matches | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Highest | Strike rate | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 72 | 73 | 7 | 2 | 31 | 98.63 | 18.00 |
Four innings, four starts: 3 against Biratnagar in Match 2, 15 against the Royals in Match 11, 31 against Pokhara in Match 17 and 23 against Kathmandu in Match 20. No fifty yet, no failure either — just a wicketkeeper-batter doing his job at the top of the order while the big names around him take the headlines. Every Chitwan result so far is on the NPL Results page.
The 31 against Pokhara was the most valuable of the four. Chitwan made 151 for 6 and won by 30 runs; Saud’s 27-ball innings, with two fours and a six, gave the total its spine while Sikandar Raza provided the late fireworks. The 23 against Kathmandu came in a losing cause — 170 for 7 chasing 180 — but it was the second-highest score in the innings.
The keeper’s job
Saud’s value is two disciplines in one selection. Behind the stumps he keeps to an attack that asks a lot of its keeper: the seam of Rijan Dhakal and Kamal Singh Airee at pace, then the turn of Sikandar Raza’s off-spin and Kushal Malla’s slow left-arm orthodox. Standing back and then up, reading two completely different bowling styles in the same innings, is the hidden work of the role — a missed stumping off Raza costs the same as a dropped catch off the quicks.
With the bat, his game is accumulation rather than explosion: a strike rate of 98.63 across the season, seven fours and two sixes in 73 balls. In a side whose overseas names provide the power, the keeper’s steadiness at the top is what lets the hitters bat around him.
The retention call
Saud is one of only seven local players the Rhinos protected through retention rather than the auction — a domestic player the franchise kept out of the July pool entirely. Retention after a two-win Season 2 is a sterner test than it sounds: the post-season review had every reason to clear the decks, and it kept Saud anyway. That call followed months of domestic-cricket scouting, which means his value was measured over a season of league conditions rather than a single highlight.
With no auction price attached, his worth is expressed entirely in continuity — the Rhinos chose not to re-buy what they already trusted. He is now into his second campaign in Rhinos colours, and the 72 runs so far are the early return on that trust.
Chitwan’s run-in
Chitwan are fourth after Match 21, with five points from five games and a net run rate of +0.009. The full table is on the NPL Points Table, and the remaining fixtures are on the NPL Schedule. Two league games are left: Janakpur Bolts on Friday 13 November and Karnali Yaks on Sunday 15 November. Win both and the Rhinos reach nine points — enough to guarantee a playoff place.
For Saud, the run-in is a chance to turn four starts into a match-winning innings. A fifty in either game would be his first of the season — and, given how tight the playoff race is, it could be the innings that takes Chitwan through. Every Chitwan result is on the Nepal Premier League hub — follow it all on SialTV.
Frequently asked questions
What is Arjun Saud’s role at Chitwan Rhinos?
Wicketkeeper-batter. He keeps wicket and bats at the top of the order, and he was retained by the franchise rather than bought at auction.
How many runs has Arjun Saud scored in NPL 2026?
Seventy-two runs in four innings, at a strike rate of 98.63, with a highest score of 31 against Pokhara Avengers — the most runs of any player in the verified Chitwan squad.
Was Arjun Saud retained or bought at auction?
Retained. He was one of seven local players Chitwan protected before the July 2026 mega auction, entering his second campaign in Rhinos colours.