Yash Dayal moves to Chhattisgarh for domestic season amid ongoing POCSO case

Indian pacer Yash Dayal will begin a new chapter in his domestic career after opting to leave Uttar Pradesh to represent Chhattisgarh in the 2026-27 season. The move comes months after the left-arm pacemaker was suspended by the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) following criminal cases, including one under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (POCSO).

According to ESPNcricinfo, Dayal’s no-objection certificate (NOC) is currently being processed and he has already joined Chhattisgarh’s pre-season camp in Aluru, Karnataka under new head coach Amay Khurasia. The switch marks his return to the domestic set-up after an extended absence from competitive cricket.

Dayal has not played a competitive match since the final of IPL 2025. Although Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained him ahead of IPL 2026, the franchise decided not to include him in the squad due to his ongoing legal situation.

RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat explained the decision before the start of the season.

“It was not in the best interest of Yash Dayal or RCB to select him because of his personal situation.

WHAT STATUS SWITCH LIGHT

The move to Chhattisgarh follows Dayal’s ouster from the Uttar Pradesh setup. While Gorakhpur Lions initially retained him for the UP T20 League and he started training with the franchise, his name was missing when the team announced their final squad after the auction.

The UPCA declined to comment on his omission, but Dayal is believed to have anticipated the miss and had already begun exploring opportunities outside the state. As per BCCI regulations, a player who receives a no-objection certificate can represent another state association while remaining eligible to feature in T20 franchise competitions in his home state.

Dayal has already linked up with Chhattisgarh’s pre-season camp, where he is training alongside veteran 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 result of two ongoing criminal cases.

In Ghaziabad, he is facing charges of sexually exploiting a woman under the false promise of marriage. An FIR was registered under Section 69 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), though the Allahabad High Court granted him interim protection from arrest. His legal team denied the allegations and claimed he was the target of blackmail and extortion.

Separately, a case registered in Jaipur under the POCSO Act involves an allegation involving a minor. A special POCSO court rejected Dayal’s anticipatory bail plea citing the seriousness of the charges.

While the court proceedings continue, Dayal will now be hoping for a fresh start on the field with Chhattisgarh as he tries to rebuild his domestic career after a turbulent year.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

Jul 27, 2026 11:13 am IST