Ajinkya Rahane is all set to lead the Ranji Trophy champions, Mumbai, in the upcoming Irani Cup match against the Rest of India in Lucknow. This match will also mark the return of all-rounder Shardul Thakur to First-Class cricket after recovering from surgery.
The Mumbai team is expected to be a strong one, with key players like Shreyas Iyer, Musheer Khan, Shams Mulani, and Tanush Kotian all set to feature. However, there is still no clarity on whether Sarfaraz Khan, currently in the India squad, will be able to participate. The Kanpur Test against Bangladesh begins on September 27th, and if Sarfaraz isn’t selected for the playing eleven, which is a possibility, the Mumbai Cricket Association might request his release to play the Irani Cup. The final team announcement is expected tomorrow.
The BCCI source revealed, “Sarfaraz is the only specialist middle-order batter in the squad. Dhruv Jurel is a keeper-batsman and Axar Patel is an all-rounder. What if there is a need for a concussion substitute? But yes, the Irani Cup starts on October 1 and travelling from Kanpur to Lucknow even on September 30 won’t be a big deal if the Test match ends early.”
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav, the India T20 skipper, and all-rounder Shivam Dube, both automatic picks in the Indian T20 squad, will miss the Irani Cup as they are required to report in Gwalior on October 3rd for the upcoming T20I series starting October 6th. This exciting match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eager to secure victory.
