Yash Dayal joins Chhattisgarh for domestic season amid ongoing sexual assault case

Uttar Pradesh and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Yash Dayal will be representing Chhattisgarh in the 2026-27 Indian domestic season. Dayal hasn’t played any competitive cricket following RCB’s victorious campaign in the IPL 2025, as he’s been accused of sexual assault. 

Dayal was retained by RCB ahead of the 2026 season, but he didn’t join the squad and missed the entire tournament. Mo Bobat, RCB's director of cricket, had said that it wasn’t in the best interests of him and RCB to pick him in the team.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Dayal is set to return to competitive cricket soon as his No Objection Certificate (NOC) is under process and he’s already a part of Chhattisgarh’s pre-season camp in Alur, Karnataka.

In June 2026, Dayal was retained by the Gorakhpur Lions for the upcoming UP T20 League, which begins in August, and had already begun his pre-season training. However, when the Lions unveiled their 18-member squad following Friday's auction, Dayal wasn't a part of the team.

The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) also declined to comment on the reason for his omission. According to the report, Yash Dayal was well aware of getting dropped by his franchise and had devised a plan to move to Chhattisgarh. As per the BCCI's (Board of Control for Cricket in India) regulations, a player who has secured an NOC to represent another state association remains eligible to play in T20 leagues held in his home state.

Jayant Yadav also a part of Chhattisgarh camp

Chhattisgarh's pre-season camp also features India offspinner Jayant Yadav and Saurashtra allrounder Dharmendrasinh Jadeja. Jayant represented Puducherry during the previous domestic season and is among the experienced faces in the squad.

They have appointed former India batter Amay Khurasiya as head coach, with the ongoing camp in Alur being conducted under his supervision. Khurasiya guided Kerala to the Ranji Trophy final in the 2024–25 season, where they lost to Vidarbha.