Karan Khatri Chhetri (Nepali: करण खत्री क्षेत्री; born 10 October 1991), popularly known as Karan KC, is a Nepalese professional cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he is among the senior pace bowlers to have represented the Nepal national cricket team across formats, and was a member of the side that played Nepal's first ever One Day International (ODI) match, against the Netherlands in August 2018.
| Full name | Karan Khatri Chhetri |
|---|---|
| Known as | Karan KC |
| Date of birth | 10 October 1991 |
| Nationality | Nepalese |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm fast-medium |
| International debut | vs Uganda, January 2015 |
| ODI debut | vs Netherlands, August 2018 (Nepal's first ODI) |
| Domestic teams | Region No. 8 Pokhara; Panchakanya Tej; Pentagon International College |
Karan KC hails from Nepal and is sometimes referred to by the nickname "Valentine boy". He developed his cricket through Nepal's domestic system before progressing into the national setup as a fast-medium bowler.
Karan KC made his international debut for Nepal against Uganda in January 2015. Over the following years he established himself as a regular member of Nepal's bowling attack in the shorter formats.
In the final match of the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two, played at Windhoek, Namibia, on 14 February 2018, Karan KC guided Nepal to a one-wicket victory over Canada. The win secured Nepal a place at the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier held in Zimbabwe in March 2018, a milestone in Nepalese cricket.
Following Nepal's elevation through the qualifying pathway, Karan KC was part of the side that featured in the country's first ever ODI, played against the Netherlands in August 2018.
Karan KC was the first Nepalese player to take a five-wicket haul in a Twenty20 International, achieving the feat against Papua New Guinea (PNG). He later became the second cricketer from Nepal to take 100 wickets in T20Is.
In Nepal's domestic competitions, Karan KC has represented:
Karan KC's career has coincided with a transformative period for Nepalese cricket, including the team's first ODI status and its appearance at the 2018 World Cup Qualifier. His role as a strike bowler in limited-overs cricket, his match-winning contribution against Canada in 2018, and his T20I records mark him as one of the notable figures in the country's cricketing history.