Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Yash Dayal has been barred from participating in the upcoming third edition of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, starting August 17, following serious legal troubles.
The 27-year-old, who played a pivotal role in RCB’s triumphant IPL 2025 campaign, was slated to represent Gorakhpur Lions this season after being signed for ₹7 lakh.
According to a Dainik Jagran report dated August 9, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) has decided to keep Dayal out of the tournament in light of a criminal case registered against him at the Sanganer Sadar Police Station in Jaipur. A UPCA official confirmed that the board has already instructed the franchise not to field him in the competition until the matter is resolved.
Dayal’s IPL career has seen highs and lows since his debut. The left-arm quick first rose to prominence with Gujarat Titans, claiming 11 wickets in their title-winning 2022 season under Hardik Pandya. He, however, endured an infamous moment in 2023 when Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh struck him for five consecutive sixes in the final over of a match.
In the 2024 IPL auction, RCB secured his services, and he responded with 15 wickets in the season. Retained ahead of the 2025 mega auction, Dayal added 13 scalps in 15 matches this year, contributing significantly to RCB’s maiden title win.
The legal situation, however, has now overshadowed his cricketing achievements. On August 6, the Rajasthan High Court refused to grant Dayal interim protection from arrest in a case involving the alleged rape of a minor. Justice Sudesh Bansal stated that such protection could not be considered given the nature of the allegations, particularly since the complainant is underage.
The court has summoned the case diary and set the next hearing for August 22. Dayal’s counsel, Kunal Jaiman, argued in court that the allegations were part of a conspiracy aimed at tarnishing the cricketer’s reputation.
With both his reputation and playing career at stake, the Prayagraj-born pacer now faces a prolonged battle-both on the legal front and in safeguarding his future in professional cricket.