Yogi Adityanath: Uttar Pradesh has produced some great cricketers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Mohammad Kaif.
Uttar Pradesh has always been one of the strongest teams in Indian domestic cricket. However, titles and trophies have been very rare. They last won the Ranji Trophy title a few decades ago, and it remains their only title in the history of the tournament, which they won in the 2005-06 season under the captaincy of Mohammad Kaif.
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Meanwhile, to promote cricket in the state, the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has made an open request to the Board of Control for Cricket in India to allot at least four different teams from Uttar Pradesh, divided into different zones so that this state with a population of over 25 crore can get more opportunities. Yogi believes that getting more representation from the state will help the board to bring out the hidden talent.
There should be at least four teams from Uttar Pradesh: Yogi Adityanath
“I believe our players should get a platform in Uttar Pradesh itself. The state is producing excellent international players in all sports. My message to the BCCI is that this huge state of 25 crore people has just one team. There should be at least four teams from Uttar Pradesh in domestic cricket,” Yogi Adityanath said on the sidelines of the ongoing UPT20 league.
Apart from the only Ranji title, UP also won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2015-16. The Suresh Raina-led side defeated a strong batting line-up of Baroda, which included star players like Hardik Pandya, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Deepak Hooda and Munaf Patel.
UP is yet to win a single Vijay Hazare Trophy title. They will be eager to make a mark in the ongoing 2025-26 domestic season as they begin their campaign with the Ranji Trophy, where they will play their first match against Andhra in Group A from October 15.
