India’s Ajinkya Rahane was seen sweating it out as he prepared to lead Mumbai in the upcoming Ranji Trophy tournament. Rahane was named the captain of the first two matches against Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
After being snubbed from the Indian team for the IND vs SA series, Ajinkya Rahane is set to lead the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team, presenting a potential chance for redemption. Following a year in the domestic circuit to rediscover his form, Rahane’s commendable outing in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy saw him amass 634 runs at an impressive average of 57.63.
Despite making a strong comeback to the Indian test team with impactful performances in domestic cricket and IPL 2023, Rahane’s name has been missing from the squad since the West Indies tour in 2023. Notably, he has now been appointed as the captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team, indicating the value placed on his leadership qualities and experience by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
This captaincy role provides Rahane with an opportunity to showcase both his leadership skills and batting prowess, potentially paving the way for a return to the Indian test side. The decision aligns with his previous standout performance in the Ranji Trophy, highlighting his ability to make a significant impact on the game.
Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal, currently with the Indian team in the two-match test series against South Africa, is unavailable for Mumbai’s selection. Additionally, Prithvi Shaw, recovering from injury, is not part of Mumbai’s squad for the first two matches, having been sidelined for several months.
Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad for 2023-24 season: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Jay Bista, Bhupen Lalwani, Hardik Tamore, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Suved Parkar, Prasad Pawar, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Mohit Avasthi, Dhaval Kulkarni, Royston Dias, Atharva Ankolekar.
