'The Fire And Mentality Is Back': Captain Karan Sharma Confident As Kashi Rudras Look To Defend Title

The fire and mentality is back: Captain Karan Sharma confident as Kashi Rudras look to defend title (The fire and mentality is back: Captain Karan Sharma confident as Kashi Rudras look to defend title)

Captain Karan Sharma: Defending champions Kashi Rudras captain Karan Sharma has expressed confidence in his side to carry their winning momentum into the playoffs of the UPT20 league 2026. Having finished third in the league stage with five wins and 10 points, Kashi Rudras will need to defeat Noida Super Kings in the Eliminator to keep their hopes of securing a consecutive title alive.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, Captain Karan Sharma said, “We know what is at stake now. There is no room for looking back because this is a completely different phase of the tournament. We have gone through a difficult period, but the way the team has responded and come back shows the character that this group has. The fire and mentality is back in everyone and we have and we have to give everything we have in the next match.”

Rudras’ head coach Dhruv Singh believes the team’s journey through the league stage has well prepared them for the pressure of knockout cricket.

“The most pleasing thing for us has been the way the group has responded to adversity. We had a difficult phase in the middle of the tournament, but the players never stopped believing in the process. The victory against Meerut Mavericks in our final league game was a reflection of the character within this squad. Now the league stage is behind us and everyone understands that the margins will be very small in the playoffs. We have match-winners across both departments. We have earned our place in the playoffs and now we aim to win the next game and take another step towards defending our title.”

Rudras' campaign has been one of resilience. After a strong start with three wins in their opening four matches, the defending champions endured a difficult phase, suffering a four-match losing streak. However, the side showed tremendous character in the latter stages of the league, bouncing back with crucial victories before signing off the league stage in emphatic fashion against table-toppers Meerut Mavericks.

At the heart of Kashi Rudras’ campaign has been their captain, Karan Sharma, who enters the playoffs as the Orange Cap holder with 355 runs. The skipper has been in remarkable form throughout the season, delivering several match-defining knocks, including a blistering 102 off 51 balls against Noida Super Kings and an unbeaten 92 off 48 balls against Gorakhpur Lions.

Rudras' campaign has been one of resilience. After a strong start with three wins in their opening four matches, the defending champions endured a difficult phase, suffering a four-match losing streak. However, the side showed tremendous character in the latter stages of the league, bouncing back with crucial victories before signing off the league stage in emphatic fashion against table-toppers Meerut Mavericks.

Kashi Rudras will face Noida Super Kings in the Eliminator, with the two-time champions needing a win to progress in their bid for a historic third UPT20 title.

Article Source: IANS