Lucknow: With knockout hopes hanging by a thread, players of the Uttar Pradesh Ranji team put in an intense training session at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday, making full use of home conditions and favorable weather. Uttar Pradesh are set to face Jharkhand in a crucial Ranji Trophy encounter beginning January 22, where only a strong performance can keep their qualification hopes alive.
Both Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand squads trained rigorously on the B Ground of Ekana Stadium, focusing on all three departments of the game. Players spent long hours sharpening their bowling, batting, and especially fielding skills, underlining the importance of fitness and execution ahead of the high-stakes contest.
After days of biting cold, the emergence of sunshine provided ideal conditions for practice, helping players regain rhythm and intensity. The training sessions reflected the seriousness with which both teams are approaching the match, aware of the implications it holds in the Elite Group A standings.
Uttar Pradesh currently sit fourth on the points table with 17 points from five matches. To qualify for the knockout stage, the team must produce exceptional performances and win both of their remaining league matches. The challenge is significant, given the tightly contested nature of the group.
At the top of the table, Vidarbha lead with 25 points, having secured three wins and two draws from five matches. Andhra Pradesh follow closely in second place with 22 points from a similar record. Jharkhand, placed third, have accumulated 18 points from five matches, keeping them firmly in contention for a knockout berth.
For Uttar Pradesh, the path to qualification is clear but demanding. They must first register an outright win against Jharkhand between January 22 and 25, followed by a crucial victory over table-toppers Vidarbha from January 29 to February 1.
As the countdown to the match begins, the intense preparations at Ekana Stadium underline the high stakes involved, with both teams determined to convert hard work on the practice ground into crucial points on the field.
