Lucknow. Two-time defending champion Kashi Rudras is ready to defend its title in the playoffs of Season 4 of Uttar Pradesh T20 League. The team will face Noida Super Kings in the eliminator match. Kashi Rudras, who finished third with 10 points from five wins in the league stage, will have to win the eliminator to keep alive their hopes of winning the title for the third consecutive time. Kashi Rudras' league phase was full of ups and downs. After winning three in the first four matches, the team had to face defeat in four consecutive matches.
League stage concludes with win against Meerut Mavericks
However, the team staged a comeback in the final stages to register a crucial win and finished the league stage with a win against points table-topping Meerut Mavericks. Captain Karan Sharma has played an important role in the team's campaign. Karan is leading the race for Orange Cap with 355 runs. He scored 102 runs on 51 balls against Noida Super Kings and scored unbeaten 92 runs on 48 balls against Gorakhpur Lions. Abhishek Goswami has scored 241 runs and Saheb Yuvraj Singh has scored 217 runs. In bowling, Atal Bihari Rai is the top bowler of the team with 14 wickets, while Vijay Yadav has taken 13 wickets. Young left-arm spinner Karthik Yadav has also impressed, taking 10 wickets.
Captain Karan Sharma expected to return to the team
Regarding the playoff match, Karan Sharma said, “We know what is at stake this time. There is no scope of looking back now because this is a completely different phase of the tournament. We have gone through a difficult phase, but the way the team reacted and came back shows the character of this group. Everyone has got that spirit and mentality back and now we have to give everything in the next match.”
Head coach Dhruv Singh said the team's journey during the league stage has prepared it for the pressure of knockout cricket. He said, “The most satisfying thing for us has been the way the team responded in difficult situations. We had a difficult phase in the middle of the tournament, but the players never stopped believing in the process. The win against Meerut Mavericks in the last match of the league stage was a reflection of the fight within this team.”
The matches in the playoffs will be very close and the difference will be very small. The team has match-winning players in both batting and bowling departments. He said that the team has made it to the playoffs and now the aim is to take another step towards defending the title by winning the eliminator. Kashi Rudras will have to defeat Noida Super Kings in the eliminator to continue their quest to win a historic third Uttar Pradesh T20 League title.