India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has been appointed as Mumbai’s captain for their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season opener against Jammu and Kashmir, starting October 15 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The squad also features senior pros Ajinkya Rahane and Sarfaraz Khan.
Leadership Change Ahead of New Season
Thakur replaces Rahane as skipper after the veteran stepped down ahead of the new domestic season. Mumbai, the 42-time Ranji champions, will look to begin their campaign on a strong note after a disappointing loss to J&K last season. The side is placed in Elite Group D, which also includes Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Pondicherry.
Key Players Return
The 16-member squad features Sarfaraz Khan, who is aiming for a comeback to the national side, and all-rounder Shivam Dube, who remains active in India’s T20I setup. Musheer Khan also returns after missing most of the previous season due to a car accident.
Notable Absentees
Mumbai will be without Shreyas Iyer, who is taking a break from red-ball cricket due to back issues, and Prithvi Shaw, who has shifted to Maharashtra. Suryakumar Yadav, who played the semifinal last season against Vidarbha, is also not part of the squad.
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