India batter Prithvi Shaw and seasoned domestic all-rounder Jalaj Saxena have been named in Maharashtra’s 16-member squad for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season, starting on October 15.
The state selectors have appointed Ankeet Bawane as the full-time captain for the campaign, with Maharashtra set to face Kerala in their opening fixture in Thiruvananthapuram from October 15-18.
Shaw, who transferred from Mumbai ahead of the season, is looking for a fresh start after a challenging period that saw him lose his place in the red-ball setup. His move to Maharashtra is considered a significant step to revive his red-ball career. Meanwhile, Saxena, one of the most consistent all-rounders in domestic cricket, joins the squad after a long stint with
Kerala, where he played a key role in their run to the Ranji final last season. He was part of the team that played a warm-up match against his former team, Mumbai, during which he had a heated confrontation with Musheer Khan, nearly raising his bat to hit Musheer. Shaw is in good form, having scored 181 against Mumbai.
India international Ruturaj Gaikwad, a regular in Maharashtra’s setup and a former captain, is also included in the squad. The selectors have opted for experience, choosing Pradeep Dadhe over young fast bowler Rajvardhan Hangargekar.
In the previous Ranji season (2024-25), Maharashtra finished fifth in Elite Group A, securing two wins, two draws, and three losses from seven matches.
Maharashtra has been placed in Group B, which includes Kerala (last season’s runners-up), Saurashtra, Chandigarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Goa, all strong contenders in the domestic circuit.
Maharashtra Squad For Ranji Trophy:
Ankeet Bawane (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prithvi Shaw, Arshin Kulkarni, Siddhesh Veer, Saurabh Nawale (wk), Mandar Bhandari (wk), Jalaj Saxena, Vicky Ostwal, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Mukesh Choudhary, Pradeep Dadhe, Hitesh Walunj, Siddharth Mhatre, Harshal Kate, Rajneesh Gurbani.
(With inputs from Agencies)
