In a significant turn of events, star batsman Ajinkya Rahane has announced that he won’t be participating in the second leg of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26, which kicks off on January 22. The seasoned Indian player has informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he is unavailable due to ‘personal reasons.’
Rahane, who ranks as the second-highest run-scorer in Mumbai's first-class history with an impressive 6141 runs at an average of 51.17, will miss the last two group stage matches and any subsequent knockout games, assuming Mumbai makes it that far. Not too long ago, the former Mumbai captain also sat out the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) to rest a hamstring injury.
It’s unclear if his absence from the remaining Ranji Trophy matches is related to that same injury. Recently, during the ongoing India vs New Zealand ODI series, Rahane made an appearance on Cricbuzz, where he shared his insights as an expert analyst.
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After the first leg of the Ranji Trophy, Mumbai has gathered 24 points from three wins in five matches. The other two games, against Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, ended in draws. The two matches Rahane will miss are against Hyderabad (away) and Delhi (home). It seems likely that Mumbai will advance to the knockouts under the captaincy of Shardul Thakur.
Thakur was appointed as Mumbai’s all-format captain after Rahane stepped down from the position before the current season began. While Mumbai faced challenges in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and VHT, they have the potential to excel in the longer format of the game.
Mumbai to Miss Ajinkya Rahane in Ranji Trophy 2025/26
Ajinkya Rahane’s absence is definitely going to be a blow for Mumbai as the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 heads into a critical stage, but the team still seems to be in a good position to move forward. With 24 points already in the bag and some key players stepping up, Mumbai looks like strong contenders for the knockout rounds. Under Shardul Thakur’s guidance, they’ll aim to keep the momentum going in their upcoming group matches against Hyderabad and Delhi.
While they’ll certainly miss Rahane’s experience and steady performance, the depth and balance of the squad could be just what they need to tackle the challenges that lie ahead in this longest format of the game.
