Yash Dayal included in Uttar Pradesh Ranji Trophy camp after 16-month absence

Yash Dayal's 16-month wait ends as Uttar Pradesh include him in Ranji Trophy camp

Yash Dayal is back in the Uttar Pradesh setup. The left-arm pacer has been included in the state's Ranji Trophy camp, bringing an end to more than 16 months away from competitive cricket, and will link up with the squad at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow from Friday (September 25).

"Yash Dayal is available for selection this year. He has given the trials and has done well in the practice matches. He will be included in the Ranji Trophy camp," Ankit Chatterjee, chief executive officer of the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), told TimesofIndia.com.

Champion seamer stuck on the sidelines

Dayal has not played a single competitive match since the IPL 2025 final, where his three-pronged pace partnership with Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifting their first IPL trophy. The 28-year-old picked up 13 wickets in that title-winning campaign and was then retained by RCB ahead of IPL 2026 — but he never joined the squad and missed the entire season.

"It wasn't in Dayal's or RCB's best interests to pick him due to his personal situation," RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat had said at a press conference.

The Chhattisgarh move that never happened

Earlier this year, Dayal had sought a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the UPCA and was all set to turn out for Chhattisgarh in the 2026-27 domestic season. The switch, however, did not materialise, with the UPCA giving the Allahabad-born cricketer an assurance that he would get the chance to play for Uttar Pradesh again.

His homecoming has not been entirely smooth, either. Dayal was retained by the Gorakhpur Lions for the UP T20 League and even started training with the franchise's retained players, but he was subsequently left out of the side's 18-member squad.

"Ready to play" as Ranji season approaches

Those who have watched him closely in recent weeks believe the seamer is primed for a return. "He is looking in good shape. He has done exceptionally well in the trial matches and, if given the chance, he is ready to play," Amit Pal, Dayal's coach from his formative years, told TimesofIndia.com.

The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy kicks off on October 11, and Uttar Pradesh open their campaign against Bihar the same day at the newly built Rajgir International Stadium. For Dayal, a strong showing at the Lucknow camp would mark the first meaningful step back into competitive cricket since that unforgettable night in the IPL 2025 final.