After IPL 2026 Snub, RCB's Yash Dayal Switches To New Team In Domestic Cricket

Yash Dayal changes domestic team [Source: AFP]

Yash Dayal has endured a rough patch in his career, both professionally and personally. Apart from battling a legal case, on sexual assault charges no less, the cricketer was also recently snubbed by the RCB franchise in the IPL 2026 season. 

It now appears that Dayal is rebooting his career in a hopeful bid to make a grand return to the game. On Sunday, July 26, a reliable report revealed that the 28-year-old is about to make a switch to a different team in domestic cricket. 

Yash Dayal to abandon Uttar Pradesh

Yash Dayal is set to abandon his state team, Uttar Pradesh, in Indian domestic cricket. The star fast bowler will be joining the Chhattisgarh cricket team for this year’s 2026-27 domestic season in the country. 

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A Cricinfo report stated that Dayal will soon be receiving his no-objection certificate (NOC), and apparently the speedster has already joined Chhattisgarh’s pre-season training camp in Alur in Karnataka.

It is worth noting that the Allahabad-born pacer made his domestic cricket debut back in late 2018 for Uttar Pradesh. He ended up playing all three formats and last represented the state in late 2024.

UPCA excludes Yash Dayal after RCB snub

Not long ago, Yash Dayal was retained by the Gorakhpur Lions team for the 2026 UP T20 League. The speedster even began training for the tournament with several other retained players of the franchise.

However, Dayal was later not included in the 18-player squad of the team for the season. When approached, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) officials declined to comment on the cricketer’s exclusion.

The fast bowler also did not join defending champions RCB before the IPL 2026 season, despite being retained by them. RCB's director of cricket Mo Bobat later explained it “wasn't in Dayal's or RCB's best interests to pick him due to his personal situation.”

When did Yash Dayal last play competitive cricket?

Yash Dayal has not played a single competitive game of cricket since the conclusion of the IPL 2025 season last year in June. The speedster picked up 13 wickets in the tournament from 15 innings, which included a tight spell in the final, to star in RCB’s historic title victory. 

However, the fast bowler was later charged for allegedly assaulting a minor girl in 2023. According to the complaint, the survivor was 17 years old at the time of the first alleged incident.

The FIR was filed under Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which carries a minimum punishment of 10 years in prison. 

As things stand, Dayal will be hoping that a fresh start in Chhattisgarh colours can help him revive his cricketing career, even as the legal proceedings against him continue.

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