Suryakumar Yadav bowled, Mhatre was named vice-captain for the start of the Ranji Trophy in Mumbai

Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was a notable omission from Mumbai’s squad for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy opener. The 42-time Ranji champions have also decided to name Under-19 World Cup-winning captain Ayush Mhatre as vice-captain for the tie.

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been included in Mumbai’s 16-man squad for the match as he looks to intensify his preparations ahead of the tour of New Zealand later this month. Mumbai will begin their campaign against Chandigarh in a four-day clash, starting on October 11. The match is likely to be held at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Mumbai and Chandigarh are part of Elite Group D, which also includes Haryana, Rajasthan, Railways, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.

WHY WAS SURYAKUMAR LEFT OUT?

According to a Cricbuzz report, Suryakumar sent a message to the selectors expressing his desire to be a part of the team. However, the selection committee decided not to select him in the draw. The same report also states that the selectors see Mhatre as a potential captain for the future, with the 19-year-old’s leadership credentials a natural fit for their long-term plans. Mhatre, who led India to the Under-19 World Cup title, has featured in just 13 first-class matches in the last two years.

Revealing the reason behind Suryakumar’s omission, Mumbai chief selector Rajesh Pawar said they wanted the former India captain to get into the rhythm of red-ball cricket first and then return to the side.

“He’s obviously a big match player and a proven player for Mumbai. We just want him to get into a rhythm by playing a few red-ball matches. Surya hasn’t played a red-ball match in the last 18 months, so we want him to have a few matches and then he can get into the team,” Pawar told Cricbuzz.

Suryakumar has not featured in competitive cricket since June in the Mumbai T20 Leaguefollowing his removal as India’s T20I captain despite leading the side to triumph in the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Another name missing from the list is former captain Shardul Thakur, who is currently recovering from a finger injury.

Sarfaraz Khan is another notable name in the team after opting for Rest of India in Irani Cup triumph over Jammu and Kashmir. Shams Mulani was also included after his influential performances for India A in their two-match unofficial Test series against Australia A, which India A won 1-0.

MUMBAI SQUAD FOR CHANDIGARH CLASH

Siddhesh Lad (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ayush Mhatre (VC), Divyansh Saxena, Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Suved Parkar, Aakash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Atharva Ankolekar, D Moshou Deshpande, D Moshitwa, Ashpan Onkar Tarmale.

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