Prithvi Shaw to lead Maharashtra in opening Ranji Trophy match

Batter Prithvi Shaw will captain Maharashtra in their opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season against Services. The match will take place from October 11 to 14 at the Palam A Stadium in Delhi. Regular captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is unavailable because he is leading the India-A team in three unofficial one-day matches against Australia-A in Puducherry, scheduled for October 6, 9, and 11. All-rounder Arshin Kulkarni is also part of the India-A squad and will miss Maharashtra's season opener. Shaw moved from Mumbai to Maharashtra ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season and scored 537 runs to finish as the team's leading run-scorer. He has a strong leadership record, having guided India to the 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup title, led Mumbai to a Vijay Hazare Trophy win, and taken them to the Ranji Trophy final in the 2021-22 season. According to the Beed District Cricket Association (BDCA) secretary Amar Salim, three players from Beed—Saurabh Nawale, Sachin Dhas, and Rishikesh Sonawane—have been selected for the Maharashtra squad, marking the first time three players from the district made the state's premier team together. The full Maharashtra squad includes Prithvi Shaw as captain, Sachin Dhas, Digvijay Patil, Ankit Bawane, Harshal Kate, Siddhesh Veer, wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale, Vicky Ostwal, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Tanay Sanghvi, Vaibhav Darkunde, Hitesh Walunj, Rishikesh Sonawane, and Atharva Dharmadhikari.

Context

The Ranji Trophy is India's premier domestic first-class cricket tournament, played annually between various state and regional cricket associations. Players often switch domestic teams to secure regular playing time or fresh opportunities, and strong performances in this tournament serve as a major pathway for selection to the national team. Domestic squads are frequently adjusted when senior players receive national or 'India-A' call-ups for international fixtures.