Kashi Rudras seal 18-man UPT20 Season 4 squad with six new signings
Synopsis
Two-time UPT20 champions Kashi Rudras have locked in their Season 4 squad after signing six players at the Agra auction, headlined by all-rounder Mohammad Sharim at ₹17.50 lakh. The franchise also launched the Rudras Cup — a regional scouting tournament — signalling that their ambitions extend well beyond retaining a trophy.
Key Takeaways
Kashi Rudras finalised their 18-member squad for UPT20 Season 4 at the player auction in Agra on 25 July .
The two-time champions retained 12 players and added six new signings at the auction.
All-rounder Mohammad Sharim was the franchise's biggest buy at ₹17.50 lakh .
Other additions include bowler Vaibhav Choudhary , all-rounders Vijay Yadav and Virat Jaiswal , and batters Manav Sindhu and Sahab Yuvraj Singh .
Kashi Rudras launched the Rudras Cup , the first regional scouting tournament by a UPT20 franchise, to strengthen their grassroots pipeline.
Kashi Rudras, the two-time UPT20 champions, finalised their 18-member squad for Season 4 following the UPT20 Player Auction held in Agra on 25 July. The defending champions added six players to their retained core of 12, completing a squad built to challenge for a third consecutive title.
Key Signings from the Auction
The headline acquisition was all-rounder Mohammad Sharim, who became the franchise's biggest buy at ₹17.50 lakh. Sharim's signing signals Kashi Rudras' intent to add genuine all-round firepower to a side that has already proven its dominance in the league.
Joining Sharim were bowler Vaibhav Choudhary, all-rounders Vijay Yadav and Virat Jaiswal, and batters Manav Sindhu and Sahab Yuvraj Singh. The additions bolster the squad across all three departments — batting, bowling, and all-round balance.
What the Franchise Said
Sukhvinder Singh, Kashi Rudras Representative, expressed confidence in the assembled group after the auction. 'We have been able to add the firepower we wanted and tick the boxes we had planned going into the auction. Every season brings new challenges and while we've been fortunate enough to win the title twice, we have to give our best. It's a hardworking bunch of boys and we're excited to see what they can achieve together as a group,' he said.
Rudras Cup: Building the Grassroots Pipeline
Beyond the auction, Kashi Rudras also announced the launch of the Rudras Cup, described as the first regional scouting tournament of its kind by a UPT20 franchise. The initiative, run alongside the franchise's existing player trials, aims to give emerging cricketers a structured pathway into the franchise setup — a notable step for a team investing in long-term talent development.
This comes amid growing emphasis across Indian state leagues on building grassroots pipelines, with franchises increasingly recognising that auction wins alone do not sustain competitive rosters over multiple seasons.
Full Squad for Season 4
Karan Sharma (Captain), Abhishek Goswami, Upendra Yadav, Atal Bihari Rai, Shubham Chaubey, Kartik Yadav, Sunil Kumar, Saksham Rai, Uvais Ahmad, Rishabh Rajput, Deepanshu Yadav, Arnav Baliyan, Mohammad Sharim, Vaibhav Choudhary, Vijay Yadav, Virat Jaiswal, Manav Sindhu, Sahab Yuvraj Singh.
With their squad locked in, the two-time champions will now shift focus to pre-season preparation as they bid to make history with a third UPT20 title.
Point of View
Building an in-house scouting tournament suggests Kashi Rudras are positioning for sustained dominance, not just Season 4. Whether that grassroots pipeline delivers competitive talent in time to matter is the real question to track.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the six new players signed by Kashi Rudras for UPT20 Season 4?
Kashi Rudras signed Mohammad Sharim, Vaibhav Choudhary, Vijay Yadav, Virat Jaiswal, Manav Sindhu, and Sahab Yuvraj Singh at the UPT20 Player Auction in Agra on 25 July. These six join a retained core of 12 players to complete the 18-member squad.
Who was Kashi Rudras' biggest signing at the UPT20 Season 4 auction?
All-rounder Mohammad Sharim was Kashi Rudras' top acquisition, signed for ₹17.50 lakh at the Agra auction. He is expected to add all-round firepower to the defending champions' lineup.
What is the Rudras Cup launched by Kashi Rudras?
The Rudras Cup is a regional scouting tournament launched by Kashi Rudras, described as the first of its kind by a UPT20 franchise. It is designed to give emerging cricketers a pathway into the franchise setup alongside existing player trials.
How many UPT20 titles have Kashi Rudras won?
Kashi Rudras are two-time UPT20 champions and enter Season 4 as the defending title holders. A third consecutive title would make them the most successful franchise in the league's history.
What is the full Kashi Rudras squad for UPT20 Season 4?
The 18-member squad is: Karan Sharma (Captain), Abhishek Goswami, Upendra Yadav, Atal Bihari Rai, Shubham Chaubey, Kartik Yadav, Sunil Kumar, Saksham Rai, Uvais Ahmad, Rishabh Rajput, Deepanshu Yadav, Arnav Baliyan, Mohammad Sharim, Vaibhav Choudhary, Vijay Yadav, Virat Jaiswal, Manav Sindhu, and Sahab Yuvraj Singh.
