In a surprising development from Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association selection committee has made a bold leadership change. They have dropped regular captain Karan Sharma from the final two league matches of the Ranji Trophy season. The committee has appointed wicketkeeper-batsman Aryan Juyal as the new captain of the Uttar Pradesh Ranji team.
Sharma Omitted from Squad Entirely
Karan Sharma has not been included in the 21-member squad for the remaining two crucial encounters. This decision comes as a shock since Sharma has been the team's regular skipper. Uttar Pradesh will face Jharkhand starting January 22 at the Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow. Their final league match will be against Vidarbha in Nagpur on January 29.
UP's Qualification Scenario
Uttar Pradesh currently occupies fourth position in Elite Group A with 17 points. Their record includes one win, three drawn matches, and one washout. For these two remaining matches, UP desperately needs outright victories with bonus points. Only such results would give them a realistic chance to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.
Performance Factors Behind the Decision
The performance of skipper Karan Sharma has been below expectations this season. He managed to score only 151 runs in four matches. His sole century came against Odisha, but his overall contribution has been limited. In contrast, new captain Aryan Juyal has been in excellent form across formats.
Juyal's Impressive Credentials
Aryan Juyal will lead the side with Madhav Kaushik serving as vice-captain. Juyal made headlines during the Vijay Hazare Trophy where he finished among the top ten highest run-scorers. He accumulated 492 runs in just 8 innings, including an unbeaten 150 as his highest score. In the first phase of the current Ranji Trophy season, Juyal scored 249 runs in four innings with one century, maintaining an impressive average of 62.25.
Sharma Expresses Disappointment
Speaking to TOI, dropped captain Karan Sharma shared his reaction. "I am surprised and disappointed. I don't know why I am not in the squad. I am fit and ready to play for my team, but then, selection isn't in my hands," Sharma stated. Selection committee members have chosen not to comment on this controversial decision.
New Faces in the Squad
The squad includes some interesting new selections. Nalin Mishra, son of UPCA vice-president Rakesh Mishra, has earned a place. Mishra previously played CK Nayudu Trophy in 2018-19 and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2021. His recent performances include scoring 14 runs in three matches and 18 runs in one match during the UPT20 league's 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Returning Players and Debutants
Three Lucknow players have secured spots in the squad. Vipraj Nigam, Zeeshan Ansari, and Rohit Dwivedi will represent Uttar Pradesh in the remaining Ranji Trophy matches. Zeeshan Ansari returns to the UP Ranji team for the first time since 2020. His selection follows an impressive performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Debutant Rohit Dwivedi has also earned his place through consistent performances.
Complete Squad for Remaining Matches
The Uttar Pradesh squad for the final two Ranji Trophy matches includes:
- Aryan Juyal (captain)
- Abhishek Goswami
- Madhav Kaushik (vice-captain)
- Aaditya Sharma
- Adarsh Singh
- Prashant Veer
- Priyam Garg
- Kartik Yadav
- Vipraj Nigam
- Shivam Sharma
- Shivam Mavi
- Zeeshan Ansari
- Kunal Tyagi
- Jasmer Dhankar
- Shubh Khanna
- Nadeem
- Karan Chaudhary
- Rohit Dwivedi
- Ashutosh Rai
- Vineet Dubey
- Nalin Mishra
This revamped squad under new leadership faces the challenging task of securing victories in both remaining matches to keep Uttar Pradesh's knockout hopes alive.
