The stage is set for the first season of the much-awaited Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) as the Player Draft was successfully held in Dehradun yesterday. The draft saw an exciting selection of icon players for the men’s and women’s teams, highlighting the immense talent that exists in Uttarakhand cricket. The process, which took place in an enthusiastic atmosphere, has given the teams their full squads, with each franchise picking icon players who have made significant contributions to domestic cricket and beyond.

Main squads for the men’s competition:

1-Pithoragarh Hurricanes has named Akash Madhwal as its captain and icon player. Madhwal, who has played a key role in Mumbai Indians’ IPL campaigns, has consistently displayed stellar performance with the ball, with his speed and accuracy contributing significantly. His impressive record in domestic cricket, especially in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, has given him experience and leadership for the Hurricanes.

2-USN Indians has appointed Kunal Chandela as its captain. Chandela, who is known for his solid technique and patience, has scored crucial runs in the top order for Uttarakhand in the Ranji Trophy. His experience of leading the state cricket team makes him an ideal choice for the USN Indians.

3-Dehradun Warriors has chosen Aditya Tare as its icon player and captain. Tare, who has been a veteran in the IPL with Mumbai Indians, brings immense experience both behind the wickets and with the bat. A former Ranji Trophy winner with Mumbai, Tare’s leadership and cricketing knowledge will play a vital role in the Warriors’ campaign.

4-Haridwar Spring Almas has appointed Samarth Ravikumar as its captain and icon player. Ravikumar, who has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket, especially the Ranji Trophy, is a dependable middle-order batsman. His ability to provide stability and lead innings will be crucial for Elmas.

5- Nainital SG Pipers has chosen Ranjan Kumar as its icon player and captain. Kumar, who is known for his all-round abilities, has excelled for Uttarakhand in the domestic circuit. His versatility in both batting and bowling makes him a valuable player for the Pipers.

Main squads for the women’s competition:

1- Nainital SG Pipers has appointed Ekta Bisht as its icon player and captain. Bisht, who has represented India internationally and became the first cricketer from Uttarakhand to represent India, is known for her accurate left-arm spin, especially in the T20 format. Her extensive experience at the international level will prove to be vital for the Pipers.

2-Pithoragarh Hurricanes has chosen Neelam Bisht as its captain and icon player. Neelam has performed consistently in domestic cricket with her all-round abilities, giving a strong base to the Hurricanes team. Her leadership and cricket experience will be helpful in leading the team to success.

3-Mussoorie Thunders has chosen Mansi Joshi as its icon player and captain. Joshi, who has represented India, is known for her fast bowling and ability to swing the ball. With her experience in international cricket and leadership skills, she will prove to be a priceless asset for the Thunders.

The draft also saw a mix of emerging and established players, all of whom are looking forward to showcasing their talents in the UPL. Each team now has a balance of youth and experience, laying the foundation for a competitive and entertaining tournament.

UPL 2024 – List of men’s teams:

Pithoragarh Hurricanes: Akash Madhwal (Captain and Icon), Vijay Sharma, Rohit Dangwal, Sunny Kashyap, Neeraj Rathore, Ashish Joshi, Vishal Kashyap, Parminder Chadda, Aryan Chaudhary, Hitesh Naula, Aditya Naithani, Anmol Shah, Harsh Vikram Singh, Shivam Gupta, Shashank Wadhwa, Nikhil Harsh.

USN Indians: Kunal Chandela (Captain and Icon), Yuvraj Chaudhary, Aryan Sharma, Akhil Singh Rawat, Devendra Bora, Agarim Tiwari, Prashant Chauhan, Aarav Mahajan, Manish Gaur, Anay Basant Chhetri, Shashank Shekhar Pant, Rahul Negi, Abhinav Sharma, Ajay Dimri, Abhishek Roshan, Tejendra Singh.

Dehradun Warriors: Aditya Tare (Captain and Icon), Dikshanshu Negi, Himanshu Bisht, Abhay Negi, Vaibhav Bhatt, Satyam Baliyan, Harjeet Singh, Sanskar Rawat, Sagar Rawat, Rakshit Rohi, Purvansh Dhruv, Ashar Khan, Mohit Kumar, Anjaneya Suryavansh, Deepak Kumar, Anshul Singh.

Haridwar Spring Almas: Samarth Ravikumar (Captain and Icon), Girish Raturi, Saurabh Rawat, Prashant Kumar Bhati, Harman Singh, Saurav Chauhan, Shashwat Dangwal, Pramod Rawat, Sparsh Joshi, Kunal Veer Singh, Rajya Vardhan Singh, Aditya Rawat, Krishna Garg, Himanshu Soni, Prajival Rawat, Daksh Awana.

Nainital SG Pipers: Ranjan Kumar (Captain and Icon), Avnish Sudha, Mayank Mishra, Aditya Sethi, Pratik Pandey, Priyanshu Khanduri, Nikhil Pundir, Harsh Rana, Kartik Bhatt, Bhanu Pratap Singh, Abhyudaya Bhatnagar, Aarush Melkani, Aniket S Rahal, Naveen Kumar Singh, Sachin Bhati, Devansh Sharma.

UPL 2024 – List of women’s teams:

Nainital SG Pipers: Ekta Bisht (Captain and Icon), Kanchan Parihar, Megha Saini, Sweta Verma, Amisha Bahukhandi, Gunjan Bhandari, Radha Chand, Kanak Tapraniya, Vaishali Tulera, Deepika Chand, Pramila Rawat, Tanya Kanaujia, Manisha Kunwar, KM Aarti, Priya.

Pithoragarh Hurricanes: Neelam Bisht (Captain and Icon), Raghavi Bisht, Neelam Bhardwaj, Safina, Jyoti Giri, Anjali Kathayat, Preeti Bhandari, Muskan Kumari, Karuna Shetty, Ankita Shah, Bhoomi Omar, Yashika Baunthiyal, Ananya Mehra, Nandina Kaushik, Ritika Chauhan.

Mussoorie Thunders: Manasi Joshi (Captain and Icon), Sarika Koli, Prema Rawat, Anjali Goswami, Nandini Kashyap, Reena Jindal, Divya Bohra, Shagun Chowdhary, Sakshi Joshi, Gayatri Arya, Nandini Sharma, Rudra Sharma, Neha Mehta, Garima Bisht, Sona Badola.

Now that the teams have been selected, the excitement is at its peak for the first season of the Uttarakhand Premier League. Fans can expect some high-level cricket action as these players take the field at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun from September 15, looking to etch their names in the history of Uttarakhand cricket.