Is Ruturaj Gaikwad Set to Captain Maharashtra in the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy?
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Synopsis
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the captain of Maharashtra for the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His recent impressive form for India A adds excitement to the team's journey, which begins against Jammu and Kashmir on November 26 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Will they rise to the challenge?
Key Takeaways
- Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed as Maharashtra's captain.
- Team starts their campaign on November 26.
- Group-stage matches at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
- Strong squad includes Umran Malik and Abdul Samad.
- Competition includes teams like Goa and Uttar Pradesh.
New Delhi, Nov 21 (NationPress) Ruturaj Gaikwad, the Indian opener, has been appointed as the captain of Maharashtra for the upcoming 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, commencing on November 26, as announced by the Maharashtra Cricket Association on Friday.
Entering the tournament with exceptional form, Gaikwad recently scored 210 runs, including a century, while representing India A in their 50-over series in Rajkot. Maharashtra's group-stage matches will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, beginning their campaign against Jammu and Kashmir on November 26.
Alongside J&K, Maharashtra will compete against Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Chandigarh in the Elite Group B league. The J&K team will be led by Shubham Khajuria.
The squad is bolstered by fast bowler Umran Malik and powerful batter Abdul Samad, both of whom bring significant experience to a team that has shown improvement in the Ranji Trophy. For their white-ball format, they will also have the support of their guest player, leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin, who has previously played for Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh.
In a related development, Ishan Kishan has been named captain of the Jharkhand team for the tournament, where they are placed in Elite Group D alongside Delhi, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra, and Tripura in Ahmedabad.
Furthermore, Karnataka has chosen Mayank Agarwal as their captain, while the participation of Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, and KL Rahul will depend on their selection for the ongoing multi-format series against South Africa.
The Maharashtra squad comprises: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Prithvi Shaw, Arshin Kulkarni, Rahul Tripathi, Azim Kazi, Nikhil Naik (WK), Ramakrishna Ghosh, Vicky Ostwal, Tanay Sanghvi, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Mandar Bhandari (WK), Jalaj Saxena, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Yogesh Dongare, and Ranjit Nikam.
The Jammu & Kashmir squad includes: Qamran Iqbal, Shubham Khajuria (c), Vivrant Sharma, Musaif Aijaz, Abdul Samad, Yawer Hassan, Kanhaiya Wadhawan (vc), Abid Mushtaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Ashwin Murugan, Yudhvir Singh, Auqib Nabi, Umran Malik, Nasir Lone, and Sunil Kumar.
Point of View
We observe the appointment of Ruturaj Gaikwad as Maharashtra’s captain with great interest. His recent performances and leadership qualities are expected to bring a new dynamic to the team. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy serves as a crucial platform for showcasing talent and building momentum in the domestic circuit, and Maharashtra will be keen to make an impact.
NationPress
21/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Maharashtra team in the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy?
Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the captain of the Maharashtra team for the 2025/26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
When does the tournament begin?
The tournament starts on November 26, 2025.
Which teams will Maharashtra face in the group stage?
Maharashtra will face Jammu and Kashmir, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Chandigarh in their group stage matches.
Where will the group-stage matches be held?
The group-stage matches will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Who are some notable players in the Maharashtra squad?
Notable players include fast bowler Umran Malik and hard-hitting batter Abdul Samad.
