Kathmandu Gorkhas, one of the eight franchises in the Nepal Premier League (NPL), unveiled their new logo and revamped identity at an event at the Royal Tulip Kathmandu in Lalitpur, the team’s hospitality partner, on Thursday, signalling a bold step forward ahead of the league’s second season.

Formerly known as Kathmandu Gurkhas during the inaugural edition, the franchise has now rebranded itself with a more Nepali-centric identity. “We changed the name from ‘Gurkhas’ to ‘Gorkhas’ to better reflect our roots,” said franchise CEO Suraj Singh Thakuri. “The former was more aligned with British interpretations of the term.”

The new logo retains the symbolic crossed khukuris, but adds deeper cultural elements, featuring iconic temples from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan Durbar Squares, as well as a pair of lions often seen guarding these heritage sites. “This logo is not just about strength. It’s about emotion, culture, and pride in the Valley we represent,” Thakuri added.

Kathmandu Gorkhas represent the Kathmandu Valley, comprising the districts of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur, along with the neighbouring district of Nuwakot. “As the NPL prepares for an upgraded second season, we’re stepping up our own game too,” said Thakuri.

The unveiling comes as the NPL gears up for its second edition, expected to bring a more polished structure and broader reach to domestic franchise cricket in Nepal. Kathmandu Gorkhas will look to channel the spirit of their new identity into their on-field performance.

Having finished fifth in the previous season, the Gorkhas have made their ambitions clear for the upcoming campaign. “We want to keep the title within the Valley this time,” said Thakuri.

Fuelling that belief is the appointment of Monty Desai, former head coach of the Nepal national team, as the franchise’s new head coach. “Having someone of Monty’s calibre gives us a real edge,” said marquee player and captain Karan KC. “Monty Sir’s experience with the national side and his understanding of local players will be invaluable.”

The Gorkhas are not only building a strong squad on paper but are also preparing for a revamped league experience.

“The auction for the second edition is going to be far better than the previous one,” said Paras Khadka, secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), who attended the unveiling. “Also, this time the teams will play under floodlights—a historic milestone for Nepali cricket.”

As night matches make their domestic debut, Kathmandu Gorkhas say they are already preparing for the shift. “Thunder Bolt Cricket Academy, our training partner, is also introducing floodlights at its training facility,” the franchise said in a press statement.

Likewise, Khadka emphasised that CAN expects franchises to raise the standards of the NPL by bringing in bigger stars of international cricket.

“We are doing our best to connect with the biggest stars in international cricket and bring them to represent Kathmandu Gorkhas,” Thakuri responded.