Hyderabad: Ajinkya Rahane, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, will once again lead the Mumbai cricket team in the upcoming Irani Cup match. This highly-anticipated match, set to take place from October 1 to October 5 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, pits the champions of the Ranji Trophy against a Rest of India team. Mumbai clinched their record-breaking 42nd Ranji Trophy title after triumphing over Vidarbha in the final of the 2023-24 season.

This Irani Cup match also marks a significant moment for Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who will be making his return to first-class cricket following a foot surgery. Thakur’s injury initially recurred during India’s tour of South Africa late last year. Despite this setback, he managed to contribute to Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy victory before undergoing surgery in London.

Expectations are high for this Irani Cup match, which is likely to feature prominent players such as Shreyas Iyer, Musheer Khan, Shams Mulani, and Tanush Kotian. Their participation is expected to create an intensely competitive atmosphere, showcasing top-tier cricket talent.

However, notable absences will include Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, who are part of India’s T20 squad for the three T20I matches against Bangladesh. Suryakumar Yadav, who captains the Indian T20 team, along with Dube, will report for training sessions in Gwalior starting October 3. The T20I series kicks off in Gwalior on October 6.

There remains uncertainty regarding Sarfaraz Khan’s participation in the Irani Cup. Currently with the Indian cricket team, Sarfaraz did not make it to the playing XI in the first Test match against Bangladesh. The second Test match between India and Bangladesh is set to begin in Kanpur on September 27. If Sarfaraz is not included in the playing XI, the Mumbai Cricket Association might request the BCCI to release him from the Indian squad so he can join Mumbai for the Irani Cup.

The close proximity of Lucknow and Kanpur, just a couple of hours’ drive apart, simplifies logistics management for any potential player movements between these venues.

The official announcement of the team for the Irani Cup is expected on September 24, adding another layer of anticipation as fans and analysts await the final squad lineup.