The Mumbai squad for the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season opener has been announced, with Shardul Thakur set to lead the formidable 42-time champions against Jammu and Kashmir. The highly anticipated clash is scheduled to commence on October 15. Key players Ajinkya Rahane and the in-form Sarfaraz Khan have been included in the 16-man squad, bolstering Mumbai’s formidable lineup.
Shardul Thakur takes over the captaincy from Ajinkya Rahane, who relinquished the role before the start of the new domestic season. The squad also features explosive batsman Shivam Dube, though Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20 captain, has been omitted.
Sarfaraz Khan’s inclusion marks his return to competitive cricket following a quadriceps injury that sidelined him during the Duleep Trophy. He had picked up the injury during the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in August. Adding to the team’s strength, his brother Musheer Khan is also back after being unavailable for the entire last season due to a car accident.
Shreyas Iyer will not be participating in the initial phase of the Ranji Trophy. The Indian international is taking a break from red-ball cricket to address a persistent back problem. In a significant development, Prithvi Shaw, a long-time fixture in the Mumbai team, has transferred his allegiance to Maharashtra.
Mumbai faces Jammu and Kashmir in their opening match, a team that famously defeated them last season in a memorable upset. J&K successfully chased a target of 205 in their previous encounter.
Mumbai is placed in a challenging Elite Group D, alongside Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Pondicherry, and Jammu and Kashmir. Last season, Mumbai reached the semi-finals, ultimately falling to Vidarbha, who went on to lift the trophy.