India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav was absent from Mumbai’s squad for the opening round of the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy. Many wondered whether the senior batter had been dropped ahead of Mumbai’s first match against Jammu and Kashmir. However, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has now clarified that Suryakumar’s exclusion was not due to selection reasons but because his availability wasn’t confirmed in time.
Mumbai’s 16-member squad, announced for their Ranji opener against Jammu and Kashmir at
Srinagar’s Sher-I-Kashmir Stadium from October 15 to 18, saw some notable inclusions and exclusions. Shardul Thakur replaced Ajinkya Rahane as captain, while Sarfaraz Khan, Siddhesh Lad, Shivam Dube, and U19 skipper Ayush Mhatre were all part of the team. The squad missed a big name, including Suryakumar.
Given that the Indian T20I skipper hasn’t played a first-class match since February 2025, his absence came as a surprise. The batter was expected to return to red-ball cricket before India’s five-match T20I series against Australia, starting on October 29. However, MCA secretary Abhay Hadap put an end to the speculation.
"No, SKY hasn't been dropped. It's just that his availability wasn't confirmed for this match. The Mumbai Cricket Association's staff tried to contact him (to ask if he would play in the match), but he didn't give his availability for this match to us," MCA secretary Abhay Hadap told to TOI.
While Suryakumar will sit out the first Ranji fixture, Mumbai will still have a strong core. All-rounder Dube, also part of India’s T20I squad for the Australia series, will feature in the opening round before flying out.
