Lucknow, Jan. 21 -- With just one win, three draws and one abandoned tie this season, former champions Uttar Pradesh have only an outside chance to qualify for the knockouts of the Ranji Trophy as they meet Jharkhand here from Thursday before taking on hosts Vidarbha at Nagpur from January 29. Uttar Pradesh are currently at fourth position in Elite Group A with 17 points, and they don't have the services of regular skipper Karan Sharma and dependable batter Rinku Singh, who is with the national team for the five-match T20 home series against New Zealand, beginning Wednesday. It would be testing time for skipper Aryan Juyal to make things right. "We are still in contention for a knockout berth in the Ranji Trophy this season as we have two matches to play even now. As a captain, I'm thinking about one match at a time, and much will depend on the outcome of this match," Juyal said on Tuesday after the team's first training session at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. "I want everyone to play good cricket against Jharkhand over the next four days and the boys have the capacity to make things possible. I have captained the side even before and I don't see any change this time too," he said, adding, "There is no additional pressure on me and as I know what it takes to lead the side." After making his debut for Uttar Pradesh in Ranji Trophy in 2019, the 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Juyal, who played the 2018 Under-19 World Cup, has so far scored 2107 runs in first class cricket at an average of 50.16 and has hit eight hundreds and equal number of fifties in 33 matches so far. UP's bold call to name Juyal skipper signaled their trust in his maturity and match-winning prowess. "I haven't set any target for myself in the remaining Ranji Trophy Games. Before coming to play the longer format of the game, I enjoyed my cricket in the white-ball event like SAMT and Vijay Hazare Trophy this season. So, I would like to continue my good run with willow in this format too," said Juyal, who hails from Moradabad. Juyal announced himself with a gritty half-century on first class debut, but it was the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season when his debut as captain truly etched his name in folklore. Thrust into leadership at just 21 due to injuries and reshuffles, Juyal didn't just lead, but dominated with the willow. He amassed 503 runs in seven matches at an average of 71.85, including three centuries and a highest of 151. His captaincy blended tactical acumen with fearless batting, guiding UP to crucial victories and proving he's no greenhorn. Matches like his 112 against Railways showcased his ability to anchor innings under pressure. In this season of Vijay Hazare Trophy, Juyal emerged as one of the top run-getters, piling up 378 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 95-plus. His explosive 104 off 72 balls against Kerala highlighted his List A mastery, where he feasted on spinners with innovative ramps and scoops. So far in four matches in this Ranji Trophy season, Juyal has scored 249 runs at an average of 62.25, including 140 against Nagaland. "I always aim to play good cricket and try to give my best for the side. We have a balanced side for the remaining matches too and will plan my off-season training after the Ranji Trophy as this time I'm not part of any IPL franchise," said Juyal, who didn't get even a single match for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 season....