The Senior Selection Committee of Mumbai Cricket Association consisting of  Sanjay Patil (Chairman), Ravi Thaker, Jeetendra Thackeray, Kiran Powar and Vikrant Yeligeti announced the 16 man Mumbai squad for their upcoming  Ranji Trophy match to be played against Odisha from  at MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy, BKC, Mumbai

The team will be once again led by former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane and is a blend of youth and experienced campaigners. The team will be bolstered by the presence of Shreyas Iyer who had missed the previous Ranji league encounter against Tripura that was played at the MBB Stadium, Agartala due to injury concerns.

Having won their previous outing by nine wickets at this very venue against Maharashtra, last month with useful contribution from Shreyas who ended his three-year First Class hundred drought and maiden century by young opener Ayush Mhatre.

D Y Patil Group 21-year old talented top order batter Suryansh Shedge who made the best of the opportunity in Mumbai’s drawn match against Tripura while plundered a run-a-ball 99 (personal best in five First Class matches) in the first essay for Mumbai. Similarly Himanshu Singh, 21, playing just his second First-Class game scored a gritty half century and took six wickets in Mumbai’s first innings in the absence of fellow lanky all-rounder Tanush Kotian who is representing India ‘A’ in Australia.

The 42-times defending champion (35 times outright and 7 times on first innings lead) however find themselves placed at the fourth position in Elite, Group A, comprising eight teams.  Having garnered nine points from three games at the back of one win (Maharashtra), one draw (Tripura) and one loss (Baroda), Mumbai trail Group topper Baroda (19 points), minnows Jammu and Kashmir (11 points) and Tripura (9 points and better Quotient 1.558 as against 1.176 of Mumbai).

The host going forward however will hope for yet another outright win to set their topsy-turvy Ranji Trophy campaign on the right path and qualify as one of the top two teams form the Group in order to defend their title in the face of three more league encounters over the next two months against Services  (Delhi), Jammu & Kashmir (BKC, Mumbai) and Meghalaya (BKC, Mumbai).

Mumbai Squad: Ajinkya Rahane (Captain), Ayush Mhatre , Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Akhil Herwadkar, Shreyas Iyer,  Siddhessh Lad, Suryansh Shedge, Hardik Tamore (WK), Sidhaant Addhatrao (WK), Shams Mulani, Karsh Kothari,  Himanshu Singh, Shardul Thakur, Mohit Avasthi, Mohd. Juned Khan and Royston Dias

Photo Ajinkya Rahane:  Former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane who led Mumbai to a record 42 Ranji crown in 2023-24 season will once again be in charge of the team that consists of youth and experienced campaigners.