Mumbai Name Ayush Mhatre Vice-Captain, Leave Out Suryakumar Yadav

Mumbai Name Ayush Mhatre Vice-Captain, Leave Out Suryakumar Yadav

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Mumbai left veteran Suryakumar Yadav out of their Ranji Trophy season-opener against Chandigarh despite his availability, naming Siddhesh Lad captain and 19-year-old Ayush Mhatre vice-captain. The squad features Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan, while pacer Shardul Thakur misses out with a finger injury ahead of the October 11 match at the Wankhede Stadium.

Selectors Omit Suryakumar Yadav From Ranji Opener

The Mumbai Cricket Association announced a 16-member squad for its Elite Group D season opener, leaving out former India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav despite the veteran making himself available for selection following outreach from team officials. Mumbai will take on Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium from October 11 to 14, 2026.

Chief selector Rajesh Pawar explained that the decision hinged on a lack of recent red-ball match practice. Suryakumar last appeared in a first-class match in February 2025 against Vidarbha in Nagpur and has not played a red-ball fixture in 18 months.

“Surya is available but it was thought to go with the youngsters for the time being. He is obviously a big-match player and a proven performer for Mumbai. We just want to get into rhythm by playing a few red-ball matches.”

Rajesh Pawar, Mumbai chief selector, via Sportstar

Pawar added that the committee wants the batter to have a few games under his belt before re-entering the red-ball side.

Ayush Mhatre and Siddhesh Lad Take Leadership Roles

While the selectors bypassed the veteran T20 captain, they handed a major leadership responsibility to teenager Ayush Mhatre, appointing him vice-captain. Mhatre led India to the Under-19 World Cup title earlier this year and brings strong domestic form to the role. The selection committee unanimously chose the experienced Siddhesh Lad to captain the side for the season.

“The selection committee unanimously has gone with experienced Siddhesh Lad as the captain for the season. Along with a senior, we have planned to groom a junior in Ayush Mhatre as the vice-captain. He has led India U-19 to the World Cup win, is a smart cricketer and is in excellent nick.”

Rajesh Pawar, Mumbai chief selector, via Cricinfo

Both Lad and Mhatre head into the season recovering from injuries. Lad dislocated his left shoulder in the Mumbai T20 League final in June, while Mhatre suffered a hamstring injury during the IPL while playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and completed his rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Both players proved their fitness by participating in the pre-season Kanga League.

Yashasvi Jaiswal Included as Shardul Thakur Misses Out

India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal joins the squad for the opening match under conditions linked to the BCCI’s red-ball requirements ahead of the Test tour of New Zealand. Pawar welcomed the left-hander’s availability for the fixture, noting that he also requires valuable match practice.

Mumbai Name Ayush Mhatre Vice-Captain, Leave Out Suryakumar Yadav
Photo: The Hindu

Mumbai will be forced to play without senior fast bowler Shardul Thakur, who led the team last season. Thakur suffered a fractured right middle finger during a training session when a ball struck his hand after a shot played by Mhatre. The injury is expected to keep the premier all-rounder out for at least the first two matches of the campaign.

Mumbai Names Full Squad For Opening Round

The 16-member team features a blend of established internationals and rising domestic talent for the opening round against Chandigarh.

  • Siddhesh Lad (Captain)
  • Ayush Mhatre (Vice-Captain)
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal
  • Sarfaraz Khan
  • Musheer Khan
  • Divyansh Saxena
  • Suved Parkar
  • Shams Mulani
  • Tanush Kotian
  • Atharva Ankolekar
  • Tushar Deshpande
  • Mohit Avasthi
  • Sylvester D’Souza
  • Onkar Tarmale
  • Aakash Anand (Wicket-keeper)
  • Hardik Tamore (Wicket-keeper)

The 42-time champions open their Elite Group D fixtures at home, where they look to integrate their younger leadership group alongside proven international performers. Alongside the senior selections, the Mumbai Under-23 side has also named players like Angkrish Raghuvanshi for their respective fixtures in the CK Nayudu Trophy. Meanwhile, all-rounder Suryansh Shedge was called up to the India A squad as a replacement for Hardik Pandya, keeping him unavailable for selection in this opening fixture.

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