LUCKNOW — The long, enigmatic exile of Yash Dayal is officially drawing to a close. After sixteen months of silence, uncertainty, and missed opportunities on the national stage, the left-arm pacer has been welcomed back into the fold of the Uttar Pradesh cricket setup. In a development that signals a potential turning point for his career, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has confirmed that Dayal will participate in the state’s upcoming Ranji Trophy camp, commencing this Friday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
The news brings an end to a period of professional limbo for the 28-year-old, whose last appearance in competitive cricket dates back to the high-stakes drama of the 2025 Indian Premier League final.
## A Return to the Fold
The confirmation came directly from the top, with UPCA Chief Executive Officer Ankit Chatterjee putting to rest any lingering doubts regarding the bowler’s status. “Yash Dayal is available for selection this year,” Chatterjee told reporters. “He has given the trials and has done well in the practice matches. He will be included in the Ranji Trophy camp.”
For Dayal, the road back hasn’t been a straightforward one. Earlier this year, in a bid to revitalize his career away from his home state, the Allahabad-born cricketer had requested a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the UPCA, with his sights set on representing Chhattisgarh for the 2026-27 domestic season. However, that transition failed to manifest, as the UPCA intervened with renewed assurances that he would remain a central figure in their plans.
## The Long Road from IPL Glory
To understand the significance of this return, one must look back at the dizzying highs of the 2025 IPL season. As part of a formidable three-pronged pace battery featuring international stalwarts Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dayal was instrumental in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) historic maiden IPL trophy triumph. With 13 vital wickets to his name and an ability to bowl under extreme pressure, Dayal had cemented himself as one of the most promising left-arm seamers in the country.
Yet, despite being retained by the RCB franchise ahead of the 2026 season, Dayal never took the field. His absence sparked widespread speculation, eventually addressed by RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, who noted that a “personal situation” made his participation untenable. That absence extended into the recent UP T20 League, where he was initially retained by the Gorakhpur Lions before being omitted from the final 18-member squad.
## The Path to Redemption
Despite the setbacks, those closest to the bowler suggest that his hunger for the game remains undiminished. Amit Pal, Dayal’s coach from his formative years, provided a glowing assessment of the pacer’s current physical and mental state.
“He is looking in good shape,” Pal noted. “He has done exceptionally well in the trial matches and, if given the chance, he is ready to play.”
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