The Mumbai Ranji Trophy team will be captained by India all-rounder Shardul Thakur for the upcoming season after incumbent Ajinkya Rahane announced his resignation on Thursday.
Rahane announced on social media that he would continue to play for the team but would no longer serve as captain of Mumbai.
“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” Rahane wrote on his X account.
After a seven-year hiatus, Mumbai won its first Ranji Trophy title in the 2023–24 season under Rahane’s captaincy. In the 2024–2025 season, they also won the Irani Trophy, which was played between the champions and the Rest of India team.
It was inevitable that Thakur would lead Mumbai, particularly after he was named the Duleep Trophy West Zone captain. Rahane was reportedly consulted by the Mumbai senior selection committee prior to the season in order to gather his opinion on potential captains.
Rahane scored a hundred and a half- century in the season and scored 467 runs in 14 innings.
Over the past three years, Thakur has been a key contributor to Mumbai’s Ranji triumph. He has saved Mumbai with lower-order runs in addition to wickets.
During the previous season, Thakur hit a century and amassed 505 runs for Mumbai. In nine games, he also claimed 35 wickets.
