Mumbai have suffered a setback ahead of their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy campaign, with senior all-rounder Shardul Thakur set to miss the opening matches due to a hand injury. According to the Times of India (TOI), Thakur was struck by a ball driven back at him by young teammate Ayush Mhatre during a practice session.
Mumbai, led by Siddhesh Lad, will begin their Elite Group D campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on October 11. Thakur captained the side last season, but Siddhesh Lad will take over the leadership role for the new campaign. Mumbai will manage the senior all-rounder’s injury and workload.
Shardul Thakur Suffers Hand Injury in Practice
Shardul Thakur sustained the injury during a pre-season practice session when Mhatre drove the ball back towards him. Thakur has been ruled out of Mumbai’s opening matches, although the Mumbai Cricket Association has not provided a specific recovery timeline.
An MCA source told TOI that Thakur is likely to miss a few matches because of the injury. He will undergo rehabilitation and remain under medical supervision before he receives clearance to return to the squad. Pasted markdown
"Shardul suffered a hand injury when he was struck by a ball that Ayush Mhahre drove towards him. The hand injury is likely to see him miss a few matches," a source in the Mumbai Cricket Association told TOI on Sunday.
Siddhesh Lad to Lead Mumbai
Veteran middle-order batter Siddhesh Lad has been appointed Mumbai’s captain for the upcoming domestic season. Mumbai will face Chandigarh in their opening Elite Group D fixture.
They are part of the split-format Ranji Trophy structure this season. The team will play their first four group matches during October and November before the domestic white-ball competitions take over. Notably, the remaining three red-ball matches will resume in January and February 2027. Pasted markdown
That schedule could give Thakur enough time to recover before the second phase of the tournament. However, his return will depend on his rehabilitation and subsequent medical clearance.
Shardul Thakur Leaves Big Gap In Mumbai Lineup
Shardul Thakur’s absence will be a major blow given his recent first-class contributions. He smashed 56 off 32 balls against Pondicherry in November 2025 and claimed five wickets across the two innings, returning figures of 3/22 and 2/24.
Thakur also produced a useful all-round performance against Karnataka in February 2026. While captaining Mumbai, Thakur scored 16 runs and took three wickets, finishing with figures of 1/52 and 2/55.
His batting proved even more valuable against Jammu and Kashmir when Mumbai were reduced to 47/7. Thakur responded with a crucial 119 to rescue the innings and give his side a chance in the contest.
He also made an impact against Meghalaya with the ball, taking a hat-trick and finishing with impressive figures of 4/14. Mumbai will miss Shardul Thakur's presence during the opening block of the Ranji Trophy 2026-27. The team waits for further updates on the all-rounder’s recovery.
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