Deepak Chahar to captain Rajasthan in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026/27
Synopsis
Deepak Chahar takes the Rajasthan captaincy for the 2026/27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy — his first T20 leadership role for the state — while both Chahar brothers reunite in the same squad after missing the Ranji Trophy's first half. Khaleel Ahmed's continued absence due to hamstring surgery remains the squad's biggest gap.
Key Takeaways
Deepak Chahar named captain and Manav Suthar vice-captain of Rajasthan for the 2026/27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy .
Rahul Chahar retains his place despite earlier reports of a potential move to another state team.
Khaleel Ahmed misses out, still recovering from hamstring surgery; recently traded to Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹4.8 crore .
Rajasthan are placed in Elite Group A and play all 7 league matches in Mumbai , starting 14 November vs Uttar Pradesh .
IPL 2026 players Mahipal Lomror , Kartik Sharma , and Mukul Choudhary are all included in the 15-member squad.
Deepak Chahar has been named captain of Rajasthan for the 2026/27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar appointed vice-captain in a 15-member squad announced by the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The squad was confirmed on 8 November 2026 ahead of Rajasthan's Elite Group A campaign, with all seven of their league matches scheduled in Mumbai.
Key Appointments and Squad Highlights
Deepak Chahar, who has represented India in 13 ODIs and 25 T20Is, returns to Rajasthan's white-ball setup after sitting out the first half of the Ranji Trophy. His younger brother, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar — a capped international with 1 ODI and 6 T20Is — also features in the squad. Rahul had been reported to be in line to represent another team for the ongoing domestic season, but will continue to play for Rajasthan. Like Deepak, he was absent from the Ranji Trophy's first half.
Khaleel Ahmed Still Absent
Left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed remains unavailable, continuing his recovery from hamstring surgery sustained while representing his former franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Khaleel, who has played 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is for India, was recently traded to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at his existing valuation of ₹4.8 crore. His absence leaves Rajasthan short of one of their most experienced pace options.
Notable Inclusions in the 15-Member Group
The squad also features seasoned left-handed batting all-rounder Mahipal Lomror, along with young wicketkeeper-batters Kartik Sharma and Mukul Choudhary, all of whom featured in IPL 2026. Abhijeet Tomar, Ajay Raj Singh, Kunal Singh Rathore, Honey Pratap Singh, and Himanshu Singh Rana are also part of the group, with Ramniwas Golada, Rohan Rajbahar, Himanshu Nehra, and Abhishek Mund completing the fifteen.
Rajasthan's Group Stage Schedule
Rajasthan open their campaign against Uttar Pradesh on 14 November, followed by fixtures against Jharkhand on 16 November and Chandigarh on 18 November. A day-night encounter against Baroda is scheduled for 20 November, before clashes with Mizoram on 22 November, Karnataka on 24 November, and Bengal on 26 November round off the group stage.
Full squad: Deepak Chahar (c), Manav Suthar (vc), Ajay Raj Singh, Kartik Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Ramniwas Golada, Rohan Rajbahar, Abhijeet Tomar, Himanshu Singh Rana, Honey Pratap Singh, Kunal Singh Rathore, Mahipal Lomror, Mukul Choudhary, Himanshu Nehra, Abhishek Mund.
With both Chahar brothers back in the fold, all eyes will be on whether Rajasthan can progress deep into the knockout rounds of the tournament.
Point of View
But his long absences from domestic cricket this season raise questions about continuity of form. The more intriguing subplot is Rahul Chahar staying put: had he moved, Rajasthan would have lost both their primary leg-spin option and a capped international in the same cycle. Khaleel Ahmed's prolonged absence is the structural concern no one is addressing loudly enough — a proven left-arm seamer at this level is not easily replaced, and his trade to SRH means Rajasthan may not see him in state colours for some time.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is captaining Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026/27?
Deepak Chahar has been named captain of Rajasthan for the 2026/27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with Manav Suthar as vice-captain. The squad was announced by the Rajasthan Cricket Association on 8 November 2026.
Is Rahul Chahar playing for Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy?
Yes, Rahul Chahar is part of Rajasthan's 15-member squad for the tournament. He had reportedly been in line to join another team for the domestic season but will continue representing Rajasthan.
Why is Khaleel Ahmed not in Rajasthan's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad?
Khaleel Ahmed is sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He has been recently traded to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for ₹4.8 crore and is still in the recovery phase.
Where and when will Rajasthan play their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy group matches?
Rajasthan will play all seven of their Elite Group A league matches in Mumbai. Their campaign begins on 14 November against Uttar Pradesh and concludes on 26 November against Bengal.
Who are the notable players in Rajasthan's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026/27 squad?
Key players include captain Deepak Chahar, vice-captain Manav Suthar, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, all-rounder Mahipal Lomror, and wicketkeeper-batters Kartik Sharma and Mukul Choudhary — all of whom have IPL or international experience.
