Ajinkya Rahane ruled out of Ranji Trophy second leg; Mumbai to cope without veteran
Ajinkya Rahane has told the Mumbai Cricket Association that he will not take part in the second leg of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26, which begins on January 22. The veteran batter cited “personal reasons” for his unavailability and will miss Mumbai’s remaining two group matches — away to Hyderabad and at home against Delhi — as well as any knockout fixtures if the team progresses.
Rahane’s standing and recent fitness context
Rahane sits second on Mumbai’s all-time first-class run-scorers list, with 6,141 runs at an average of 51.17. His absence is a clear loss of experience and composure in the middle order. He had already skipped the Vijay Hazare Trophy to rest a hamstring issue, but Mumbai have not confirmed whether the current withdrawal is related to that injury.
Outside the dressing room, Rahane has remained involved in the game — recently appearing as an expert analyst during the India vs New Zealand ODI series — but he won’t be on the field for the Ranji run-in.
What this means for Mumbai
- Short-term leadership: Shardul Thakur is expected to continue leading the side. Thakur was appointed Mumbai’s all-format captain after Rahane stepped down before the season.
- Squad depth tested: Losing a player of Rahane’s calibre hurts, particularly in long-format cricket, but Mumbai have a deep pool of domestic talent who will be called upon to fill the void.
- Knockout chances: Mumbai are in a healthy position to advance — they collected 24 points after the first leg, with three wins and two draws from five matches — so the team still looks well placed to push for the knockouts.
How Mumbai reached this point
After the first phase of the Ranji Trophy, Mumbai’s record reads three victories and two draws, earning them 24 points. Draws came against Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, while wins in three other fixtures set them up nicely for the second leg. Despite earlier stumbles in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the squad appears to be better suited to the longer format, where experience and depth matter most.
Outlook: who steps up?
With Rahane unavailable, the spotlight moves to middle-order candidates and senior campaigners who can anchor innings. Mumbai’s combination of established domestic performers and emerging players will need to deliver. Shardul Thakur’s captaincy and the team’s bowling group will also play key roles in keeping momentum.
For Mumbai, the immediate aim is straightforward: secure results in Hyderabad and against Delhi, maintain their points cushion, and ensure a smooth path into the knockout stages. For Rahane, the door remains open for a return in future fixtures if his personal circumstances change.