Shreyas Iyer appointed as captain of Mumbai for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy; Prithvi Shaw returns
Published - 17 Nov 2024, 03:49 PM
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Team India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the captain of the Mumbai team for the upcoming season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Ajinkya Rahane, who is currently leading Mumbai in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, will play under Shreyas Iyer's captaincy in the T20 tournament.
Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to an IPL title last season. However, the star batter was released by the Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on November 24-25. The Mumbai Cricket Association's selection committee has backed Iyer for the captaincy.
Shreyas Iyer last played for India in a T20I match against Australia in December 2023. The middle-order batter wasn't included in the squad for the recently concluded T20 series against South Africa, where India recorded a 3-1 win. He will be hoping to prove his abilities to earn a call-up from the T20I team.
Shreyas Iyer to Lead Mumbai T20 Side in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
The Mumbai Cricket Association's senior selection committee met on Sunday to finalize the squad for the upcoming domestic tournament, set to begin on November 23. Ajinkya Rahane was informed by the committee that Shreyas Iyer would be appointed as the captain for the short-format tournament.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the selection committee has appointed Shreyas Iyer as captain for the Mumbai T20 side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Prithvi Shaw, who was dropped from the Ranji Trophy for fitness reasons, has been included in the squad after showing improvement.
“Iyer will lead the Mumbai T20 side for Syed Mushtaq Ali and Shaw too has been included. Rahane will be playing under Iyer’s captaincy as MCA feels Iyer is the right choice for this format,” a source informed.
Prithvi Shaw Played India in Five Tests, Six ODIs, One T20I
Prithvi Shaw has represented India in five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I since his debut six years ago. He was dropped from Mumbai's squad for their away Ranji Trophy match against Tripura due to fitness and disciplinary concerns. Notably, Shaw had been irregular in attending training sessions.
"You have to look at his fitness and his running when he is on the field. The MCA has a rich history and there cannot be exceptions for a certain player," an official from Mumbai Cricket Association had told PTI.
Shivam Dube, Musheer Khan, and Tushar Deshpande Excluded From Squad
Shivam Dube, Musheer Khan, and Tushar Deshpande were excluded from Mumbai's squad for the upcoming tournament. These cricketers failed to fully recover from their respective injuries. Mumbai will play against Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala, Nagaland, Services, and Andhra in group-stage matches.
Mumbai will kick off their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign against Goa on Saturday, November 23. The league phase of the tournament will be played from November 23 to December 5, followed by the knockout rounds from December 9 to 15.
