Lokesh Bam

Lokesh Bam
Bam in 2026
Personal information
Full name
Lokesh Bam
Born (2000-08-13) 13 August 2000 (age 25)
Doti, Nepal
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper-batter
International information
National side
T20I debut (cap 38)12 February 2022 v UAE
Last T20I15 February 2026 v West Indies
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2024–presentBiratnagar Kings
Career statistics
Competition T20I Twenty20
Matches 21 26
Runs scored 215 399
Batting average 15.35 21.00
100s/50s 0/0 1/0
Top score 39* 106
Catches/stumpings 9/- 12/-
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 15 February 2026

Lokesh Bam (Nepali: लोकेश बम, Nepali pronunciation: [loːkeʃ bʌm]; born 13 August 2000) is a Nepalese cricketer who plays as a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper.[1][2][3] He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Nepal against the United Arab Emirates on 12 February 2022.[4] He has represented the Sudurpashchim Province cricket team and the Armed Police Force Club[5] in domestic competitions.[6] In September 2025, Bam was named in Nepal’s squad for a series against the West Indies,[7] and later selected for Nepal’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.[8] whereas, In the opening match against england at wankhede stadium, bam scored not out 39 runs from just 20 balls.[9] unfortunately nepal lose this game by 4 runs.

Early and personal life

Lokesh Bam was born and raised in Dhangadhi, Nepal.[10] He grew up in a large joint family consisting of his father, two mothers, two sisters, and a brother.[10] His father was involved in politics, though Lokesh did not share an interest in the field.[10] Bam's cricket journey began in his neighborhood when he was inspired by his neighbor, Janak Singh.[10] He initially practiced with a rubber ball in a local field before joining the Dhangadhi Cricket Academy after his Secondary Education Examination (SEE), where he trained under coach Arjun Khadka.[10]

His father originally wanted him to become an engineer, but Bam’s passion for cricket led him to prioritize sports over academics.[10] To advance his career, he moved to Kathmandu to join the Nepal Cricket School (NCS) and later trained at the TU Ground.[10][11] He completed his plus-two education at SPA College in Dhangadhi under a scholarship and later pursued a Bachelor's degree.[10] Aside from cricket, Bam is interested in traveling and is a collector of shoes.[10]

Franchise cricket

Bam has been a key player for the Biratnagar Kings in the Nepal Premier League.[12] In the 2024 season, he scored a match-winning half-century that propelled the Kings to victory early in the tournament.[13] and he was retained by Biratnagar Kings for 2025 Nepal Premier League.[14][15] In the 2025, Bam was one of the leading performers as Biratnagar posted a record total of 220/6 against the Pokhara Avengers, with Bam top-scoring with 72 off 48 balls in a dominant batting display that helped his side register a 53‑run win — the highest team total in NPL history.[16]

International career

In February 2022, Bam was named in Nepal's squad for the Oman Quadrangular T20I Series [17] and the subsequent 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Global Qualifier A.[18] He made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for Nepal on 12 February 2022 against the United Arab Emirates. In his debut innings, he made an immediate impact by scoring 33 runs off 21 balls, featuring two fours and two sixes.[19]

Bam's reputation as a high-strike-rate finisher grew during his performances for the Nepal 'A' developmental side. On 29 March 2024, during the first T20 match against Ireland Wolves at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Bam struck a brilliant century, scoring 106 runs from 56 deliveries. His aggressive knock included nine fours and eight sixes, reaching the milestone in 52 balls.[20]

In May 2025, Bam was named as one of the additional players to join Nepal's "Best 15" squad following their United Kingdom tour to participate in the 2025 Scotland T20I Tri-Nation Series.[21] In September 2025, he was named in the squad for the Unity Cup against the West Indies.[22] He featured in the third T20I in Sharjah, contributing to Nepal's landmark 2–1 series win. Later that year, during the 2025 Men's T20 World Cup Asia–EAP Regional Final in October, he recorded a then career-best T20I score of 39* runs off just 12 balls against Samoa.[23]

On 6 January 2026, Nepal head coach Stuart Law included Bam in the final 15-member squad for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[24] In Nepal's opening match of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup on 8 February 2026, held against England at the Wankhede Stadium, Bam played a career-defining innings. Chasing 185, he smashed an unbeaten 39* off 20 balls.[25][26][27]

References

  1. ^ "Lokesh Bam Profile - Cricket Player Nepal | Stats, Records, Video". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  2. ^ Setopati. "पहिलो पटक राष्ट्रिय क्रिकेट टिममा परेका लोकेश र विवेक को हुन्?". Setopati (in Nepali). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  3. ^ GC, Bhupendra (27 January 2022). "आक्रामक लोकेशको दमदार इन्ट्री". हाम्रो खेलकुद (in Nepali). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  4. ^ GC, Bhupendra (13 February 2022). "'डेब्यू प्रदर्शनबाट खुशी छैन' – लोकेश बम". हाम्रो खेलकुद (in Nepali). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  5. ^ "A thrilling win for APF thanks to Lokesh Bam's excellent batting". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  6. ^ Setopati. "अर्जुन ट्रफी : लोकेश बमले प्रहार गरे ३६ बलमा ५७ रन". Setopati (in Nepali). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Nepal squad announced for T20I series against West Indies". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Talent aplenty in Nepal's squad for Men's T20 World Cup 2026". International Cricket Council. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Nepal push England all the way in T20 World Cup thriller". BBC Sport. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "BOOM BOOM Lokesh Bam | His Explosive NPL Innings & Cricket Journey | The Cricket Ground with Sharad". YouTube. Sharad Vesawkar. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  11. ^ "Lokesh Bam: Boom Boom Bam, Battles & Breakthroughs | The Kings Corner". YouTube. Biratnagar Kings Official. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  12. ^ "लोकेश बमलाई किन्न अक्सनमा ७ टोलीको प्रतिस्पर्धा". Online Khabar (in Nepali). Retrieved 13 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Lokesh Bam's half-century powers Biratnagar Kings to first NPL victory". HimalPress. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  14. ^ Staff, cricnepal (5 July 2025). "Biratnagar Kings announce retained players for NPL season 2". cricnepal.com. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  15. ^ "12 players sold at highest price at Nepal Premier League auction". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Biratnagar Kings smash record 220 in highest-ever NPL total". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  17. ^ "Dhakal added to Nepal squad". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  18. ^ "Nepal name final squad for T20 Global Qualifiers". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  19. ^ "T-20 series: Nepal loses against UAE". Nepal News. 12 February 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Lokesh Bam's ton in vain as Nepal A suffers 21-run defeat against Ireland A". Himal Press. 29 March 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  21. ^ "Law selects his 'Best 15' for UK tour". The Kathmandu Post. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Nepal squad announced for T20I series against West Indies". The Kathmandu Post. 15 September 2025. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  23. ^ "Lokesh Bam Profile - Stats and Records". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Nepal's squad for Men's T20 World Cup 2026 announces". The Rising Nepal. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  25. ^ "T20 World Cup 2026: England see off resilient Nepal in last over thriller". Olympics.com. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  26. ^ Adil, Hafsa (8 February 2026). "England beat Nepal by four runs; avoid shock at T20 World Cup". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  27. ^ "England survive huge scare as Nepal suffer heartbreak, lose by 4 runs". Al Jazeera. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokesh_Bam