Ajinkya Rahane relinquishes Mumbai Ranji captaincy saying the time is correct to blood in a new captain for the side.
Ajinkya Rahane has resigned as captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy squad as he feels “it’s the right time to groom a new leader” ahead of the domestic 2025–2026 season. Rahane, who is currently 37, stated in a letter to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he intends to stay a member of the squad.
Rahane guided Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy victory in 2023–24, ending a nine-year drought. He was far more fluid in the shorter forms, even though his red-ball form over the last two years has been inconsistent at best. Rahane’s chart-topping 469 runs earned him Player of the Tournament at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last December.
“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour,” Rahane wrote in a social media post. “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 MCA to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season.”
Rahane most recently captained the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 Indian Premier League, when he amassed 390 runs in 14 innings with a strike rate of 147.27, making him the team’s top scorer. However, with only five victories, the squad finished ninth in a disappointing season.
Rahane emphasised in July that he still had the “hunger and passion” for red-ball cricket and the game, even taking his cricket equipment and trainers with him on vacation in London to start getting ready for the forthcoming domestic season.
“I still want to play Test cricket,” Rahane had told Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton in an interview with Sky Sports. “I’m really passionate about playing Test cricket. I’m enjoying my cricket at the moment. For me, it’s all about focusing on the controllable things. Frankly, I tried to have conversations with the selectors, but [there are] things as a player I cannot control. I got no response.
“As a player, all I can do is keep playing cricket, keep enjoying the game, and give my best each and every time. I love playing Test cricket, love playing red-ball [cricket], it’s a passion. The love for the game keeps me going.”