Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) cricket team had high hopes of making a strong start to the Ranji Trophy season, with their first two matches scheduled at home. However, after failing to gain a first-innings lead in both encounters, UP now finds itself in a precarious position, sitting at 7th place in the eight-team Elite Group C. With just two points from two matches, UP’s path ahead looks challenging as they prepare for two away matches, with Haryana leading the group with 10 points, followed by Kerala with 7 points after the second round.
Home Ground Woes Continue for UP
In the second match against Haryana at Lucknow’s Sports Galaxy Ground, the UP team struggled to capitalize on the home advantage once again. Haryana secured a crucial first-innings lead, earning them three points while UP had to settle for one. This was UP’s second successive disappointment after failing to secure a lead in their opening match against Bengal.
Historically, UP and Haryana have drawn seven of their 13 matches. Haryana has the upper hand overall, winning four times compared to UP’s two victories.
Yash Dayal and Ankit Rajpoot’s Late Stand
The final day of the match saw a spirited last-wicket partnership between Yash Dayal (41) and Ankit Rajpoot (40), who added 85 runs to UP’s total. Despite their efforts, UP could only manage 364 runs, falling short by 89 runs of Haryana’s first-innings total of 453.
The game ended with Haryana at 73/3 at tea, happy to take their points tally to 10 after two matches. For UP, this was a significant setback, and their bowlers could not make much of an impact on the final day.
Key Performances
On the final day, UP resumed at 267/6 with captain Aryan Juyal unbeaten on 118. However, he could add only one run before falling to Sumit Kumar. The middle and lower order struggled, with Shivam Sharma (15), Vipraj Nigam (7), and others failing to make notable contributions. It was left to Dayal and Rajpoot to provide some consolation with their late partnership.
For Haryana, Jayant Yadav was the standout performer, claiming 4 wickets for 102 runs in 26 overs. His all-round performance continued from the previous match against Bihar, where he took 7 wickets. In this match, Haryana’s bowlers, including Aman Kumar and Harshal Patel, played a vital role in restricting UP’s batting lineup.
Haryana’s Dominance in the Second Innings
Haryana’s second innings began 10 minutes before lunch, and despite some quick wickets, they comfortably batted out the remaining overs. Ankit Kumar (10) was caught off Shivam Sharma’s bowling, and Lakshya Dalal (9) was run out, but Mayank Shandaliya’s 31-run cameo ensured there was no further collapse. By tea, Haryana’s Himanshu Rana (4) and Kapil Hooda (11) were at the crease, and the match was declared a draw, with Haryana taking the first-innings lead and securing 3 points.
Post-Match Reflections
UP’s head coach, Sunil Joshi, expressed his disappointment with the team’s performance. He had expected the batsmen to take better advantage of the home conditions. Aryan Juyal’s century and Rinku Singh’s brisk 89 were the only highlights for UP. Juyal’s fourth first-class century showcased his consistency, but the team’s inability to press for a lead cost them.
Rinku Singh, in his first match of the season, provided much-needed stability to the middle order. His 89 off 110 balls included 10 boundaries and three sixes. He notably dominated Yuzvendra Chahal, who went wicketless in 11 overs.
Strong Bowling Units
UP’s bowling unit showed promise, especially with leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam, who had taken 4 wickets in his debut match, and Yash Dayal, who continues to lead the pace attack. However, they lacked the consistency to trouble Haryana’s well-balanced batting lineup. Shivam Sharma’s 4/95 in the first innings and his contributions in the second innings were valuable, but the rest of the bowlers failed to deliver breakthrough performances.
For Haryana, Jayant Yadav’s all-round excellence and the return of veteran spinner Yuzvendra Chahal provided the necessary strength. Chahal had a forgettable outing in this match but remains a significant threat for upcoming games.
UP’s disappointing start to the Ranji Trophy season has left them with an uphill battle. While individual performances, like those of Aryan Juyal and Rinku Singh, offer hope, the team must improve its collective performance to climb up the standings.
