Gaur Gorakhpur Lions owner Vishesh Gaur says that sharing a dressing room with seasoned international and IPL cricketers provides young players the ideal environment to learn, build confidence, and accelerate their growth — a philosophy that has shaped the franchise's approach heading into the upcoming UPT20 League season in Lucknow and Kanpur.

Inspiration From the Dressing Room

'Sharing the dressing room with players who have represented India or played in the IPL is a huge source of inspiration for youngsters,' Gaur said. 'They get the chance to closely observe how experienced professionals prepare, train and handle pressure. It also gives them the confidence that they can achieve the same dream.'

This mentorship-by-proximity model is increasingly being adopted by state T20 leagues as a way to bridge the gap between domestic cricket and the national setup — and Gaur believes the Gorakhpur Lions are well positioned to benefit from it.

Leadership Group and Squad Composition

Gaur confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Aryan Juyal will captain the franchise this season, with Shivam Sharma named vice-captain. Former pacer Ankit Rajpoot has come on board as head coach, completing a leadership group that Gaur described as cohesive and experienced.

'We are pretty happy with the squad. We managed to get most of the players we wanted and have built a balanced team and are satisfied with the combination,' Gaur said. 'We are confident in the leadership group we have assembled.'

Big-Ticket Auction Buy: Shivam Chaudhary

The Lions made a significant move at the player auction, spending ₹21 lakh to secure opening batter Shivam Chaudhary — the franchise's top priority after the retention phase. Gaur explained the rationale: 'He is a quality opening batter, an experienced leader and someone who can provide stability at the top of the order. That was one area we needed to fill after the retentions and Shivam Chaudhary was our top choice.'

League Expanding to Two Cities

Gaur also praised the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) for scaling up the tournament this year by hosting matches across both Lucknow and Kanpur. He specifically acknowledged BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and UPT20 League Governing Council Chairman Dr. Sanjay Kapoor for their role in the league's growth.

'Hosting matches across two cities is a big step. It involves more effort and investment, but it will help the league reach more fans. Not many state leagues are doing this, and it shows UPCA's commitment to making the tournament bigger,' he said.

Tournament Schedule and Venues

The 24-day tournament will feature 34 matches, including 13 double-headers. It begins at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow before moving to Green Park Stadium in Kanpur for the second leg, playoffs, and the final, scheduled for 6 September. The expansion signals growing ambitions for a league that has steadily positioned itself as a meaningful stepping stone for Uttar Pradesh's cricketing talent.