Mumbai, Jan 28: Defending champions Mumbai announced their 16-member squad sans India stars Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer to take on Meghalaya in their must-win Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash against Meghalaya starting here on Thursday.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Suryansh Shedge and Atharva Ankolekar have been called back.
Mumbai, who are coming off a five-wicket defeat against Jammu and Kashmir last week, will be without the India stars Jaiswal, Iyer and Rohit, who all have joined the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against England starting on February 6.
These three players had featured in the sixth round game here at the BKC Ground, with Rohit and Jaiswal following the BCCI diktat to play domestic cricket regularly.
Iyer, on the other hand, has been a vital cog in Mumbai side for domestic competitions across formats this year.
The trio is also a part of the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy next month.
Karsh Kothari, who also featured in Mumbai’s playing XI against Jammu and Kashmir, was not picked.
The defeat against Jammu and Kashmir has dented Mumbai’s title defence as the Ajinkya Rahane-led side will now be required to record a big victory – with a bonus point – against Meghalaya and hope that Baroda beat the table-toppers Jammu and Kashmir in their backyard.
Mumbai’s upcoming clash against Meghalaya marks a pivotal moment in their Ranji Trophy campaign, as the defending champions find themselves in a precarious position following their recent loss to Jammu and Kashmir.
With a depleted squad missing the star power of Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer – all on national duty – the Ajinkya Rahane-led side faces a must-win scenario.
A dominant victory with a bonus point is non-negotiable if Mumbai are to keep their title hopes alive, but their fate also depends on Baroda defeating table-toppers Jammu and Kashmir in another Group A fixture.
Despite the setback, Mumbai will look to leverage the experience of Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and the returning trio of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Suryansh Shedge, and Atharva Ankolekar to turn the tide.
With the stakes sky-high, Mumbai must deliver a clinical performance to prove why they are the defending champions of Indian domestic cricket.
Mumbai’s road to redemption in the Ranji Trophy hinges on their ability to rise above adversity and deliver under pressure. The absence of Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer presents a significant challenge, but it also offers an opportunity for the younger players to step up on the big stage. The return of Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Suryansh Shedge, and Atharva Ankolekar will inject fresh energy into the side.
Mumbai squad: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Amogh Bhatkal, Siddhesh Lad, Akash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Suryansh Shedge, Shardul Thakur, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Mohit Avasthi, Sylvester D’Souza, Royston Dias, Shreyas Gurav, Atharva Ankolekar. (PTI)