India pacer Yash Dayal is set to begin a fresh chapter in his domestic career after deciding to leave Uttar Pradesh and represent Chhattisgarh in the 2026-27 season. The move comes months after the left-arm pacer was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) following criminal cases, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Dayal’s no-objection certificate (NOC) is currently being processed and he has already joined Chhattisgarh’s pre-season camp in Alur, Karnataka, under new head coach Amay Khurasiya. The switch marks his return to a domestic setup after a prolonged absence from competitive cricket.
Dayal has not played a competitive match since the IPL 2025 final. Although Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained him ahead of IPL 2026, the franchise chose not to include him in the squad because of his ongoing legal situation.
RCB director of cricket Mo Bobat had explained the decision before the season began.
“It wasn’t in Yash Dayal’s or RCB’s best interests to pick him due to his personal situation.”
WHAT LED TO STATE SWITCH
The move to Chhattisgarh follows Dayal’s exclusion from the Uttar Pradesh setup. While he had initially been retained by the Gorakhpur Lions for the UP T20 League and had begun training with the franchise, his name was missing when the team announced its final squad after the auction.
The UPCA declined to comment on his omission, but it is understood that Dayal had anticipated missing out and had already started exploring opportunities outside the state. Under BCCI regulations, a player who obtains a no-objection certificate can represent another state association while still remaining eligible to feature in franchise-based T20 competitions in his home state.
Dayal has already linked up with Chhattisgarh’s pre-season camp, where he is training alongside experienced domestic cricketers, including India off-spinner Jayant Yadav and veteran all-rounder Dharmendrasinh Jadeja.
YASH DAYAL LEGAL CASES CONTINUE
Dayal’s cricketing future remains intertwined with the outcome of two ongoing criminal cases.
In Ghaziabad, he faces allegations of sexually exploiting a woman under the false promise of marriage. An FIR was registered under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), although the Allahabad High Court has granted him interim protection from arrest. His legal team has denied the allegations and claimed he was being targeted through blackmail and extortion.
Separately, a case registered in Jaipur under the POCSO Act involves allegations concerning a minor. A special POCSO court rejected Dayal’s anticipatory bail plea, citing the seriousness of the accusations.
While the legal proceedings continue, Dayal will now hope for a fresh start on the field with Chhattisgarh as he attempts to rebuild his domestic career after a turbulent year.
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