KS Bharat, the former Indian Test wicketkeeper who featured in seven Test matches for the national side, has taken on a fresh cricketing stint in the Nepal Premier League. The franchise Kathmandu Gurkhas has officially added the Andhra cricketer to their roster for the NPL 2026 edition. This development follows his decision in 2026 to bring the curtain down on his international and domestic cricket career in India.
Nepal Premier League Deal And Tournament Schedule
The third edition of the Nepal Premier League is scheduled to kick off on October 26 in Kathmandu. Kathmandu Gurkhas secured the services of KS Bharat to bolster their lineup ahead of the upcoming campaign. Having played across several prominent franchise teams in India, Bharat brings significant experience to the NPL circuit, offering the Kathmandu outfit stability both behind the stumps and in the middle order.
Franchise History And Domestic Achievements
Throughout his time in the Indian Premier League, Bharat represented four separate franchises over consecutive years. He played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2021 season before moving to Delhi Capitals in 2022. He subsequently joined Gujarat Titans in 2023 and was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in 2024, though match opportunities remained limited across these stints. Despite sparse IPL game time, Bharat created domestic history in the Ranji Trophy by becoming the very first wicketkeeper-batsman to score a triple century in the tournament.
International Test Debut And Career Journey
Bharat earned his first call-up to the Indian Test squad back in November 2019, though he had to wait until February 2023 to make his official Test debut. Over his seven Test appearances for India, five came against Australia while two were against England. His outings included four home matches during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well as the World Test Championship final played at The Oval. Facing fierce competition from established options like Wriddhiman Saha and the aggressive Rishabh Pant, Bharat secured his place through stellar glovework. While his wicketkeeping standards drew widespread acclaim, inconsistency in converting solid starts into substantial scores led to his removal from the national squad midway through the home series against England in early 2024.
