Mumbai Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Squad: In a move that had been brewing for some time, Shardul Thakur has officially been named the captain of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy team for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The decision comes after Ajinkya Rahane stepped down from leadership duties earlier in August, signaling a transition phase in Mumbai’s red-ball setup.
Rahane, who had led Mumbai with characteristic calm and class, had already made it clear that he wouldn’t continue as skipper, paving the way for a new face at the helm. While speculation swirled about who would take charge, all eyes were on either Shardul Thakur or Shreyas Iyer, both established names with strong leadership credentials.
However, Iyer’s recent decision to step away from red-ball cricket seems to have cleared the air. Though he continues to lead Mumbai in white-ball formats, the demands of the longer format and his own priorities have led him to focus solely on limited-overs cricket for now.
That leaves the experienced and fiery Thakur in charge – a man known for his fighting spirit, ability to rally his teammates, and knack for delivering in crunch situations. His elevation isn’t just a reward for seniority, but also a vote of confidence in his tactical mind and all-round abilities.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced the probable squad, with Thakur’s name right at the top. The squad blends youth with experience, a hallmark of Mumbai cricket and under Thakur’s leadership, the 41-time champions will be hoping to reclaim domestic supremacy.
Mumbai Squad:
Shardul Thakur (c), Ayush Mhatre, Musheer Khan, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Akhil Herwadkar, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Suved Parkar, Suryansh Shedge, Akash Parkar, Tushar Deshpande, Sylvester Dsouza, Irfan Umair, Roystan Dias, Pratik Mishra, Akash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Prasad Pawar (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Himanshu Singh, Atharva Ankolekar, and Ishan Mulchandani.
For Mumbai, this marks a fresh chapter. For Shardul Thakur, it’s an opportunity and a responsibility to carry forward a rich legacy.
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