Rinku returns as UP take on Haryana

Lucknow: With the return of Rinku Singh to the middle order, the formidable Uttar Pradesh is all set to lock horns with seasoned Haryana in their Elite Group C encounter at the Sports Galaxy ground on Friday.
UP is determined to come out with all guns blazing in this crucial match and secure a victory to bolster their points tally after managing only one point from a draw against Bengal in the opening encounter.
An in-form Rinku Singh will provide a significant boost to the home team, and with skipper Aryan Juyal in fine touch—narrowly missing out on a well-deserved century against Bengal—alongside Priyam Garg, who helped UP eke out a draw with a fantastic ton, the team's batting looks strong.
With the likes of Siddhartha Yadav, who had a promising Ranji Trophy outing by scoring 75 runs in the previous match, the hosts' batting lineup is set to strengthen.
Uttar Pradesh's bowling unit has also been impressive, with debutant leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam making an immediate impact by taking four wickets. The pace attack, led by the in-form Yash Dayal, who also claimed four wickets against Bengal, looks formidable. However, Aaqib Khan will miss this match due to his participation in the Emerging Asia Cup in Oman from October 18-27. Saurabh, Shivam Sharma, Ankit Rajpoot will give ample bowling options to skipper Aryan while former captain Nitish Rana can also bowls a few overs.
Historically, Haryana has the upper hand, winning four out of 12 encounters against UP, while UP has claimed victory twice, with the remaining six matches ending in draws.
In their season opener, Haryana defeated Bihar by an innings and 43 runs. The team received a boost with the addition of experienced leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who has rejoined the squad after playing county cricket for Northamptonshire. Chahal's return is expected to add depth and variety to Haryana's bowling attack; he was seen practicing in the nets.
In their first match, Haryana benefitted from a solid all-round performance by Jayant Yadav, who scored 55 runs and took 2 wickets for 17 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award in the low-scoring game in Rohtak. With experience from six Test matches, where he took 16 wickets and scored 248 runs, including one century, Jayant will be a key player against UP and is expected to form a strong bowling partnership with Chahal. The other Haryana batters had limited opportunities to shine in their first match, but they hope to perform well in the new venue.
Talking to TOI, UP coach Sunil Joshi expressed confidence in the squad's preparation and eagerness for the upcoming match. He emphasised that the inclusion of Rinku Singh has infused the team with renewed motivation and strength, particularly enhancing the middle order. Joshi noted the buoyant and optimistic atmosphere among the younger players, attributing this positive energy to Rinku Singh's presence.
Meanwhile, local lad Zeeshan Ansari, currently serving as a net bowler, was spotted taking tips from Yuzvendra Chahal. "He is my role model, and I closely follow his performances. We discussed the basics, variations, and the approach to the crease," the leg-spinner shared.
First-class cricket comes to Sports Galaxy ground
Lucknow's cricketing landscape is set to expand as the Sports Galaxy Ground is set to become the city's eighth venue to host prestigious first-class cricket matches. This significant addition to Lucknow's cricket infrastructure follows in the footsteps of notable grounds that have previously staged high-profile encounters. The historic LA Martiniere Ground has hosted three first-class matches, while the iconic Gomti Ground witnessed a memorable Test match between India and Pakistan. The Charbagh NR Ground has hosted two first-class matches, and the K.D. Singh ‘Babu' Stadium boasts an impressive record of 21 first-class games, including a Test match featuring India and Sri Lanka. The Chowk Stadium and Akhilesh Das Cricket Ground have hosted one and seven first-class matches, respectively. Most recently, the state-of-the-art Ekana International Cricket Stadium has emerged as a prominent venue, having staged 15 first-class matches, notably including a Test match between Afghanistan and West Indies.