India allrounder Shardul Thakur will lead the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for forthcoming season after incumbent Ajinkya Rahane decided to step down on Thursday.
Rahane posted on his social media account that he would not continue as Mumbai captain but would continue to represent the side as a player.
“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” Rahane wrote on his X account.
Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour.
With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role.
I remain fully committed to giving my best…
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) August 21, 2025
Under the leadership of Rahane, Mumbai won its first Ranji Trophy title after a seven-year gap in the 2023/24 season. They also won the Irani Trophy, played between the champions and the Rest of India squad, in the 2024/25 season.
Thakur leading Mumbai was always on the cards especially after he was appointed as West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy. It is understood that the Mumbai senior selection committee spoke to Rahane before the season and had taken his feedback about future captaincy candidates.
Rahane scored 467 runs in 14 innings with one hundred and one half century season.
Thakur has been playing a vital role in Mumbai’s Ranji success over the past few years. In addition to wickets, he has also bailed out Mumbai with lower-order runs.
Thakur scored 505 runs for Mumbai last season where he slammed one hundred. He also took 35 wickets in nine matches.
