Uttar Pradesh to follow split captaincy and coaching [Source: @BCCIdomestic/x]The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has decided to adopt a split captaincy and coaching model for the upcoming Indian domestic season. The Uttar Pradesh cricket team will now have separate captains and coaching staff for its red-ball and white-ball units.The association has even named its captain and head coach for the Uttar Pradesh team as it braces itself up for the upcoming 2026-27 Ranji Trophy and 2026-27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy seasons.UP name captain and coach for red-ball and white-ball teamsThe UPCA has named star wicketkeeper-batter Aryan Juyal as captain of the Uttar Pradesh team for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season. Moreover, the association also named former Indian spinner and UP veteran Gyanendra Pandey as new head coach of the red-ball team.Also Read- Yash Dayal Picked For Uttar Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy CampAll-rounder Karan Sharma, meanwhile has been appointed as captain of Uttar Pradesh’s white-ball teams. The 28-year-old will now be leading the side in the upcoming 2026-27 Vijay Hazare Trophy and 2026-27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments. Similarly, former cricketer and ex-Uttar Pradesh fast bowler Arvind Kapoor will serve the team as its new head coach in white-ball cricket. As reported by the Times of India, former India fast bowler and UPCA chairman of senior men’s selection committee, Praveen Kumar, was the one who suggested the association to opt for a split captaincy and coaching model before the upcoming domestic season.How did Uttar Pradesh fare in previous domestic season?It is worth noting that the Uttar Pradesh cricket team also opted for a split captaincy model, sort of, during the previous Indian domestic season in late 2025 and early 2026.While it was Karan Sharma who led Uttar Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy as well as 20-overs Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy outfits in the first half of the season, the cricketer’s absence in the backend prompted top-order batter Aryan Juyal to lead the side. In any case, the UP team failed to go past the opening round of both, Ranji Trophy and SMAT competitions. However, in 50-overs Vijay Hazare 2025-26 tournament, the team was led by Indian international and senior pro Rinku Singh. Under his leadership, the team won each of its seven Elite Group B matches to top the points table, only to lose out to eventual runners-up Saurashtra in the quarter-final.All in all, Uttar Pradesh will be hoping that the new split captaincy and coaching structure can bring greater stability and helps the team mount a stronger challenge across all three domestic competitions in the 2026-27 season.Also Read- Bangladesh Champions vs England Champions Live Streaming, Live Telecast- Where to Watch WCL Match 6 Live On TV, OTT, App?
