Ayush Mhatre named Mumbai vice-captain; Suryakumar Yadav left out of Ranji squad
Synopsis
Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad announcement carries two major stories: U-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre gets his vice-captaincy, and T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav is left out despite being available — a bold youth-first call that signals exactly where Mumbai cricket's red-ball priorities lie.
Key Takeaways
Ayush Mhatre , India's U-19 World Cup -winning captain, named vice-captain for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener on 11 October at Wankhede Stadium .
Suryakumar Yadav omitted from the squad despite making himself available, with selectors opting for youth.
Yashasvi Jaiswal included to bolster batting and gain red-ball prep ahead of India's Test series vs New Zealand in November .
Shardul Thakur ruled out of at least the first two matches with a fractured right middle finger .
Both Mhatre and captain Siddhesh Lad returned from injury, clearing fitness tests at the BKC indoor facility .
Mumbai, 42-time Ranji Trophy champions, are placed in Elite Group D with Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Railways, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
Ayush Mhatre, who led India to the U-19 World Cup title earlier this year, has been appointed vice-captain in Mumbai's squad for their Ranji Trophy season-opener against Chandigarh, beginning 11 October at the Wankhede Stadium. The squad selection, overseen by chief selector Rajesh Pawar, signals a deliberate shift toward youth in red-ball cricket.
Suryakumar Yadav's Omission
In a significant selection call, Suryakumar Yadav — who captained India to a T20 World Cup victory on home soil earlier this year — has been left out of the squad despite indicating his availability. According to reports, the selectors, led by Pawar, have chosen to prioritise younger talent in the four-day format. The decision underlines a broader philosophy of using Ranji Trophy as a development platform rather than a senior players' comeback vehicle.
Pawar held an hour-long selection meeting attended by captain Siddhesh Lad, head coach Omkar Salvi, and cricket advisor and former India cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar, who serves as chief selector.
Key Absences and Notable Returns
Seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur will also miss the squad, having sustained a fracture to his right middle finger during training. He is reportedly set to sit out at least the first two matches of the season.
On the brighter side, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been named in the squad, providing a significant boost to Mumbai's batting line-up. His inclusion is also seen as valuable preparation for India's upcoming Test series against New Zealand in November.
Opener Divyansh Saxena, who was Jaiswal's teammate at the 2020 Men's U-19 World Cup in South Africa, returns to the Mumbai Ranji setup on the back of strong showings in pre-season competitions.
Mhatre and Lad's Fitness Journey
Mhatre had been sidelined for nearly five months due to a hamstring injury sustained during IPL 2026, where he was representing Chennai Super Kings. Captain Lad had similarly missed time after dislocating his shoulder in the Mumbai T20 League. Both recently cleared fitness evaluations at the BKC indoor facility and turned out in the Kanga League to demonstrate match readiness.
Mumbai's Ranji Trophy Context
Record 42-time Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai have been placed in Elite Group D for the current season, alongside Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Railways, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
Full squad: Siddhesh Lad (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ayush Mhatre (vice-captain), Divyaansh Saxena, Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Suved Parkar, Aakash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Atharva Ankolekar, Tushar Deshpande, Mohit Avasthi, Sylvester Dsouza, and Onkar Tarmale.
With Jaiswal's star power and Mhatre's emerging leadership credentials, all eyes will be on how Mumbai's youth-heavy unit performs when they take the field at Wankhede on 11 October.
Point of View
Not an oversight — Mumbai's selectors are signalling that Ranji Trophy is no longer a rehabilitation vehicle for white-ball stars. That logic is sound, but the optics are stark for a player who just delivered a T20 World Cup. The more consequential subplot, however, is Mhatre's elevation: giving the U-19 skipper vice-captaincy within months of a serious hamstring injury accelerates a succession narrative that Mumbai are clearly comfortable fast-tracking. If the experiment pays off, it could reshape how franchises and boards think about converting youth-format leaders into senior red-ball candidates.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Suryakumar Yadav left out of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad?
Suryakumar Yadav was omitted from Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad despite making himself available for selection. The selectors, led by Rajesh Pawar, reportedly chose to prioritise younger talent in the red-ball format.
Who is Ayush Mhatre and why was he made vice-captain?
Ayush Mhatre is the captain who led India to the U-19 World Cup title earlier this year. He was appointed vice-captain of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad, underscoring the selectors' intent to fast-track his red-ball leadership development.
When and where does Mumbai play their Ranji Trophy opener?
Mumbai's Ranji Trophy season begins on 11 October against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Why is Yashasvi Jaiswal part of the Mumbai Ranji squad?
Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included to strengthen Mumbai's batting and to gain red-ball match practice ahead of India's Test series against New Zealand in November.
Which group is Mumbai placed in for Ranji Trophy 2026?
Mumbai are placed in Elite Group D alongside Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Railways, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Mumbai hold the record for the most Ranji Trophy titles, having won the competition 42 times.
