Pune, Oct 9 (NationPress) India batter Prithvi Shaw and experienced domestic all-rounder Jalaj Saxena have been named in Maharashtra’s 16-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, set to commence on October 15. The state selectors have appointed Ankeet Bawane as the full-time captain for the campaign, with Maharashtra facing Kerala in their opening match in Thiruvananthapuram from October 15-18.

Shaw, who transferred from Mumbai ahead of the season, is looking for a fresh start after a challenging period that resulted in him losing his spot in the red-ball team. His transition to Maharashtra is viewed as a crucial move to rejuvenate his red-ball career. On the other hand, Saxena, one of the most reliable all-rounders in domestic cricket, joins the squad following a lengthy tenure with Kerala, where he played a pivotal role in their journey to the Ranji final last season. He was involved in a warm-up match against his former team, Mumbai, where he had a heated exchange with Musheer Khan, almost striking him with his bat. Shaw is currently in excellent form, having scored 181 runs against Mumbai.

India international Ruturaj Gaikwad, a consistent member of Maharashtra’s squad and a past captain, is also included. The selectors opted for experience by choosing Pradeep Dadhe over younger fast bowler Rajvardhan Hangargekar.

In the last Ranji season (2024-25), Maharashtra secured the fifth position in Elite Group A, achieving two victories, two draws, and three losses from seven matches.

Maharashtra has been placed in Group B, which comprises Kerala (the previous season’s runners-up), Saurashtra, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Goa - all formidable competitors in the domestic arena.

Maharashtra squad: Ankeet Bawane (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Arshin Kulkarni, Siddhesh Veer, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Mandar Bhandari (wk), Jalaj Saxena, Vicky Ostwal, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Hitesh Walunj, Siddharth Mhatre, Harshal Kate, Rajneesh Gurbani.