‘UP should have at least four domestic teams’

Uttar Pradesh has always been among the stronger sides in the Indian domestic cricket circles. However, titles and trophies have been far and further in between. They last won a Ranji Trophy title a couple of decades ago, and it has been their only title in the tournament’s history, which they won under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif during the 2005-06 season.

Meanwhile, to boost cricket in the state, the current Chief Minister of UP, Yogi Adityanath has sent an open request to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allot at least four separate teams from UP, divided into different regions in order to provide more opportunities to a populous state with over 25 crore residents. Yogi believes that having more representation from the state will help the board unearth hidden talents.

“I believe the players we have must get the platform within Uttar Pradesh. The state is providing excellent international players across all sports. My message to BCCI is that in this huge state of 25 crore people, there is just a solitary team. There should be at least four teams in domestic cricket from Uttar Pradesh, the state deserves this opportunity,” Yogi Adityanath on the sidelines of the ongoing UPT20 League.

Apart from a solitary Ranji title, UP also won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during the 2015-16 edition of the premier domestic 20-over competition. The Suresh Raina-led side had defeated a mighty Baroda line-up, which had the likes of Hardik Pandya, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda, and Munaf Patel in their star-studded team.

UP are yet to win anything in the Vijay Hazare Trophy – the One-Day Domestic tournament. They will be eager to make a mark in the ongoing 2025-26 domestic season, as they start their campaign with the Ranji Trophy, opening their account with a game against Andhra in a Group A clash from October 15.

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