He led India to U19 World Cup Final in 2024 and scored most runs in the tournament.
Uday Saharan is a promising batter and a leader emerging as a future star. Playing his just third first-class match, he is serving as the captain of Punjab in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Round 3 clash against Goa, a huge responsibility for a player still in his early stages of his career.
Born on September 8, 2004, in Shri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, Uday Saharan shifted to Punjab early in his career for better opportunities. Known for his calm temperament and leadership qualities, he led India’s Under-19 squad to the 2024 ICC U19 World Cup final and scored the most runs in the tournament, 397 across seven matches at a staggering average of 56.71. During the marquee event, Uday Saharan earned praise for his game sense, cool composure, and ability to play long innings.
Despite India losing the U19 World Cup final to Australia, Sahara’s captaincy and match-winning ability have made him one of the most exciting prospects in Indian cricket. His maturity and resilience in crunch situations were evident in the semi-final against South Africa, where he scored 81 under pressure.
Unlike modern-day batters, the 21-year-old’s batting style features patience and accumulation, suited to anchoring innings but requiring adaptation to the faster pace of senior cricket. Saharan’s batting style is heavily influenced by his father, Sanjeevan Saharan, an Ayurvedic doctor and BCCI Level 1 coach, who emphasised technique and temperament.
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In his third first-class match, leading Punjab, Uday Sahara scored a valiant 100 off 247 balls against Goa, stabilising the innings amid a major batting collapse. His dodged century, featuring just eight fours, came after Punjab’s batting lineup, including several IPL stars, was reduced to 59/4. Uday, batting at No. 3, played a composed knock supported by Salil Arora’s 51 off 131 balls, Punjab post 215/5 on Day 1.
Before this, on his Ranji Trophy debut against Madhya Pradesh, Sahara came in early with Punjab reeling at 5/1. The team soon lost two more wickets, reducing them to 23/3, but Uday scored a resilient 75 off 169 balls with eight fours, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure and rescue the team. Apart from his 75, none of the Punjab batters crossed the 40-run mark, highlighting his patience on bowling-friendly pitches.
While he had an okayish batting performance against Kerala in Round 2, Uday followed it up with a hundred while leading his state for the first time, which speaks volumes about his character. His dependable middle-order batting and useful off-spin bowling make him a versatile asset for Punjab and potentially for India in future. Henceforth, all eyes will be on Uday Sahara, whether he converts this century into a double.
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