Mumbai leaves out Suryakumar Yadav from Ranji squad, picks Yashasvi Jaiswal

Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad for the opening match excludes former India T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav despite his confirming he was available. The Mumbai Cricket Association announced a 16‑member list on Monday, and both Yadav and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal had told the panel they could play. Only Jaiswal appears on the roster. Chief selector Rajesh Pawar said Yadav has not played any red‑ball cricket for about one and a half years, and that a few red‑ball games would be needed before he could be considered. MCA officials added they tried contacting Yadav several times after his confirmation but received no response. Mumbai will meet Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium from Oct 11‑14 in the season opener. Siddhesh Lad has been named captain with Ayush Mhatre as vice‑captain. Pawar praised Jaiswal’s return, noting he also needs match practice and may feature in either the senior side or the India A team touring New Zealand, so the current squad covers only the first game. The team also includes Sarfaraz Khan, who featured for Rest of India in the Irani Cup, all‑rounder Shams Mulani, and other local talents such as Tanush Kotian, Atharva Ankolekar, Divyaansh Saxena, Tushar Deshpande, Musheer Khan, Mohit Avasthi, Sylvester D'Souza, Suved Parkar, Onkar Tarmale and wicket‑keepers Aakash Anand and Hardik Tamore. Fast bowler Shardul Thakur remains unavailable after a recent injury.

Context

The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first‑class competition, and recent red‑ball form is a key factor for selection. Players who have been away from the longer format often need fresh practice before rejoining their state sides.