Upendra Yadav IPL Stats, Price, Runs, Age, Century, Debut, Team
Upendra Yadav is a wicketkeeper-batter from Uttar Pradesh with one of the strongest domestic records among uncapped Indian players, yet his IPL career tells an unusual story: despite being bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad and spending two seasons in their squad, he is yet to play a single IPL match.
His case is a reminder that the IPL is as much about timing and squad composition as talent. With Heinrich Klaasen established as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s first-choice keeper, opportunities simply never arrived for the Uttar Pradesh gloveman.
Upendra Yadav IPL Career Overview
Upendra Yadav was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 25 lakh in the 2023 IPL auction after consistent domestic performances. He was retained for the 2024 season but did not get a game in either campaign, spending both seasons as squad cover behind the franchise’s first-choice wicketkeeper.
He went unsold in the 2025 mega auction and has not returned to the league since. His official IPL playing record therefore stands at zero matches, zero runs and zero dismissals.
That blank record, however, hides a genuinely accomplished domestic cricketer. In domestic T20 cricket, Upendra Yadav has played 47 matches and scored 1211 runs at an average of 34.60 and a strike rate of 135.76, with one century and seven half-centuries.
Upendra Yadav IPL Record by Season
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Dismissals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
Two seasons in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad produced no playing time. The franchise’s settled combination, with an overseas keeper-batter locked into the XI, left no vacancy for a specialist Indian gloveman.
Upendra Yadav IPL Teams and Price History
| Year | Team | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25 lakh | Sold |
| 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25 lakh | Retained |
| 2025 | – | – | Unsold |
His 25-lakh price tag reflected genuine domestic pedigree rather than hype. When franchises did not come calling in the 2025 mega auction, it said more about the limited demand for backup Indian keepers than about his ability.
Why He Never Played
The explanation is straightforward squad logic. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s first-choice wicketkeeper during 2023 and 2024 was Heinrich Klaasen, one of the most destructive batters in world cricket and an automatic selection. Franchises rarely carry two specialist keepers in the playing XI, and the backup role went to players who could double up in other positions.
This is a common IPL story. Dozens of talented domestic players spend seasons in squads without playing, learning from international stars in training while waiting for an injury or a tactical opening that never comes. For Upendra Yadav, that opening never arrived.
Domestic Career: The Real Story
If the IPL record is blank, the domestic record is anything but. Upendra Yadav has been a pillar of the Uttar Pradesh batting line-up across formats.
| Format | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| First-Class | 61 | 2760 | 203 | 38.33 | 7 | 14 |
| List A | 55 | 1713 | 112 | 39.83 | 2 | 11 |
| Domestic T20 | 47 | 1211 | 103 | 34.60 | 1 | 7 |
His first-class average above 38 with seven centuries, including a double hundred, shows a batter with genuine technique and temperament. In List A cricket, he averages nearly 40. His domestic T20 strike rate of 135.76 proves he can adapt his game to the shortest format.
Behind the stumps, he has been equally reliable, with 194 first-class catches and 36 stumpings, plus 60 catches and 13 stumpings in List A cricket.
Batting Style and Role
Upendra Yadav is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter who typically bats in the middle order. He is strong against spin, rotates strike well and has the power to clear the ropes late in an innings, as his 55 domestic T20 sixes show.
As a keeper, he is tidy and experienced, with sharp reflexes standing up to spinners. In the IPL context, he profiles as a backup keeper and middle-order option, exactly the role he filled at Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Upendra Yadav Age and Background
Upendra Yadav was born on 8 October 1996 in Uttar Pradesh. He came through the state’s age-group system before establishing himself in the senior side, and his consistent domestic performances eventually brought him to the attention of IPL scouts.
He is now in the prime years for a wicketkeeper-batter, and his domestic form in recent seasons, including strong showings in the UP T20 League, keeps him on the radar for future auctions.
Upendra Yadav IPL Records and Achievements
– Bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for 25 lakh in the 2023 IPL auction
– Retained by the franchise for the 2024 season
– Two full IPL seasons in an IPL squad (2023, 2024)
– Yet to make his IPL debut: 0 matches, 0 runs
– Domestic record: 2760 first-class runs at 38.33, 1713 List A runs at 39.83
Strengths and Weaknesses
His greatest strength is his proven domestic consistency. Averaging close to 40 in both first-class and List A cricket over more than 100 matches is the mark of a serious player, and his keeping is well regarded.
His main challenge is the structural one facing all backup keepers: IPL teams invest their keeper slot in one player, and breaking in requires either an injury or a dramatic change in team strategy. At 29, he needs a franchise willing to give him the debut he has been waiting for.
What Next for Upendra Yadav
Upendra Yadav’s IPL story may yet have a second act. His domestic numbers remain excellent, and wicketkeeper-batters with his experience are always in demand when squads need reliable Indian backup options. A strong domestic season or a good showing in state T20 leagues could easily put him back in the auction conversation.
FAQs
Has Upendra Yadav played an IPL match?
No. Despite spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad, Upendra Yadav is yet to make his IPL debut.
Which IPL team did Upendra Yadav play for?
He was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad in 2023 and 2024. He went unsold in the 2025 mega auction.
What is Upendra Yadav’s IPL price history?
Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for 25 lakh in the 2023 auction and retained him for 25 lakh in 2024. He went unsold in 2025.
What are Upendra Yadav’s domestic cricket stats?
He has scored 2760 first-class runs at an average of 38.33 with seven centuries, 1713 List A runs at 39.83, and 1211 domestic T20 runs at a strike rate of 135.76.
What is Upendra Yadav’s role?
He is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter who usually bats in the middle order for Uttar Pradesh.
Why did Upendra Yadav not play for SRH?
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s first-choice wicketkeeper was Heinrich Klaasen, an automatic selection, which left no room for a second specialist keeper in the playing XI.
Rivcky John
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