Varanasi, July 23, 2026: Two-time Uttar Pradesh T20 League champions Kashi Rudras are gearing up for the Season 4 Player Auction, scheduled to take place in Agra on July 24, as the defending champions look to build a squad capable of securing back-to-back titles.
Having lifted the UPT20 trophy twice in three seasons, Kashi Rudras will enter the auction with a strong and settled core of 12 retained players. The franchise has retained Upendra Yadav, Karan Sharma, Abhishek Goswami, Saksham Rai, Rishabh Rajput, Kartik Yadav, Arnav Baliyan, Deepanshu Yadav, Atal Bihari Rai, Shubham Chaubey, Uvais Ahmad and Sunil Kumar, providing continuity as the team looks to build on its championship-winning campaign.
Speaking ahead of the auction, Mr. Sukhvinder Singh, Kashi Rudras Representative, said, “Winning two titles in three seasons is a reflection of the consistency we have worked hard to build at Kashi Rudras. As defending champions, we know that the challenge becomes greater, and our focus heading into the auction is on strengthening the strong core we have retained. Our ambition is to build a squad capable of competing for another championship and securing back-to-back titles.”
Beyond their ambitions on the field, Kashi Rudras and JKC Sports have continued to place grassroots development and talent identification at the heart of their larger cricketing vision. Ahead of Season 4, this commitment was further strengthened with the launch of the first-of-its-kind Rudras Cup, a regional scouting tournament organised by the franchise ahead of the upcoming season.
Held at the JK Loco Railway Stadium in Kanpur, the initiative received an overwhelming response and provided emerging players with a competitive platform to showcase their talent in front of the Kashi Rudras scouting setup. The tournament formed part of the franchise's broader efforts to identify promising cricketers beyond established pathways and provide deserving talent with greater visibility and opportunity.
With a championship-winning core already in place and a strong pipeline of talent emerging through its grassroots initiatives, Kashi Rudras will head into the July 24 auction in Agra looking to make the right additions as they set their sights on defending their crown and adding a third UPT20 title to their trophy cabinet.
