Prithvi Shaw scored a brilliant century against his former Ranji team, Mumbai, in a three-day warm-up fixture while representing Maharashtra for the first
time on October 7, 2025, at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune.
At Lunch on the opening day, Maharashtra were cruising at 172/0 in 34 overs. Shaw, who switched from Mumbai to Maharashtra ahead of the 2025-26 season, scored 100 runs off 140 balls, providing a strong start for his new side. He was well-supported by Arshin Kulkarni, who played a blistering knock of 186 off 139 balls before being dismissed by Shams Mulani. Later, Siddhesh Veer also brought up a half-century to consolidate Maharashtra’s dominance.
The fixture serves as preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) announced free entry for fans at the venue in Pune, a move expected to draw a large number of local cricket enthusiasts, especially with Shaw facing his former team and a few other stars like Shivam Dube and Ankeet Bawne also featuring in the important dress rehearsal fixture.
Speaking of the Ranji Trophy, the first round for the upcoming season will commence on October 15 in a four-day encounter. Mumbai are placed in the Elite Group D, whereas, Maharashtra have been slotted in the Elite Group B. The Shardul Thakur-led side will kickstart their campaign with the Round 1 clash against Jammu & Kashmir away from home in Srinagar. While Thakur is set to lead the side, the final squad for this match is yet to be declared.
Meanwhile, the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side, will begin their season against last year’s runners-up Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram from October 15 to 18. The ongoing practice match against Mumbai provides an ideal opportunity for Maharashtrians to test their combinations and assess player form ahead of the 2025–26 domestic season.
