Shardul Thakur, an all-rounder, will be the team’s leader. Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of the Indian T2OI team, has not been added to the squad. A formidable 16-man squad has been announced by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for their Ranji Trophy 2025–26 opening against Jammu and Kashmir, which kicks off on October 15 at Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.
On Friday, the experienced Selection Committee, led by Sanjay Patil, announced the team, which included all-rounders Shivam Dube and Shams Mulani as well as experienced players Ajinkya Rahane, Siddhesh Lad, and Sarfaraz Khan. Hardik Tamore will serve as backup wicketkeeper for Aakash Anand. Musheer Khan and India U19 captain Ayush Mhatre have also been kept on.
Although there isn’t an official explanation for Suryakumar Yadav absence, it is believed that national assignments and workload management may be contributing causes.
The Mumbai team welcomes Sarfaraz Khan back.
Prior to the start of the new season, Ajinkya Rahane resigned from his position as captain, and Thakur assumed the role. Thakur’s expertise and all-around skills will be crucial for the 42-time champs. Rahane, meanwhile, is still a vital middle-order batsman who gives much-needed steadiness to a side trying to recover from placing second to Vidarbha the previous season.
After missing the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament because of an injury, Sarfaraz has now been cleared by the BCCI to play and will be joining his younger brother Musheer in the starting lineup. Following an ankle injury that kept him out of the 2024–25 season, Tushar Deshpande rejoins Thakur and Royston Dias to bolster the speed attack. The team is quite similar to the one that played against Maharashtra in a three-day practice match. Along with Delhi, Hyderabad, Jammu & Kashmir, and other teams in Elite Group D, Mumbai will launch its campaign on October 15.
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