Seasoned batter Siddhesh Lad is set to lead Mumbai in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season, replacing all-rounder Shardul Thakur as captain. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) senior selection committee has backed Lad to lead the 42-time Ranji Trophy champions in the upcoming domestic season.
Mumbai will begin their campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium from October 11 to 14. The team has been placed in Elite Group D alongside Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Railways, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. They look to win the Ranji Trophy for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
Siddhesh Lad is set to replace Shardul Thakur as Mumbai captain for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. The MCA senior selection committee has made the change with workload management in mind.
Mumbai senior selection committee chairman Rajesh Pawar confirmed Lad's appointment and said the decision will allow Thakur to focus on his role as a key all-rounder. Lad had also led Mumbai on an interim basis last season when Thakur was unavailable due to injury.
“Yes, we’ve decided to appoint Siddhesh as our captain for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. He did well last season and is experienced. Shardul is our match-winner. There is already too much workload on him as he’s expected to bowl a lot of overs, take wickets and contribute with the bat as well."
"We don’t want to burden him with the responsibility of captaincy. Plus, we’ll have to manage his workload. There are 10 games in the Ranji Trophy and he may have to rest for the odd match,” Pawar told The Times of India.
We’ve Spoken to Both Siddhesh and Shardul Thakur - Rajesh Pawar
Rajesh Pawar also confirmed that the selectors spoke to both players before finalizing the decision. He said that both Siddhesh Lad and Shardul Thakur were positive about the change and that the team wanted clarity well before the season began.
“We’ve spoken to both Siddhesh and Shardul about it, and both are positive about it. Since the season starts with four Ranji Trophy matches in October, we wanted clarity on the captaincy well in advance,” he added.
Mumbai won their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in the 2023-24 season under Ajinkya Rahane after beating Vidarbha by 169 runs in the final. However, they were knocked out by Karnataka in the quarter-finals last season.
Siddhesh Lad Earns Captaincy After Stellar Ranji Trophy Season
Siddhesh Lad will enter the new season in excellent form after finishing as Mumbai's leading run-scorer in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. The 34-year-old scored 774 runs in eight matches at an average of 77.40, including five centuries. He was subsequently named the MCA's Best Senior Cricketer for the season.
Lad also became only the third Mumbai batter to score five centuries in a single Ranji Trophy season. He recorded his career-best 170 against Pondicherry, along with hundreds against Hyderabad and Delhi.
The right-hander has also enjoyed a strong first-class career, scoring 5,623 runs in 82 matches at an average of 44.27, including 15 centuries and 30 fifties. He also scored 602 runs in seven matches during the 2024-25 season.
Also read: Australia announce 17-member ODI squad for Zimbabwe and South Africa; Marnus Labuschagne dropped
Hence then, the article about siddhesh lad to replace shardul thakur as mumbai captain for ranji trophy 2026 27 was published today ( ) and is available on cricketaddictor ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Siddhesh Lad to replace Shardul Thakur as Mumbai captain for Ranji Trophy 2026-27 )
Also on site :
- Shoppers Say Walmart’s ‘Sturdy’ 8-Piece Patio Set ‘Will Stand Up to the Test of Wind and Rain’ — and It’s 73% Off
- Walmart’s ‘Beautiful’ Multifunctional Floor Lamp Is a Dream Find for Small Spaces, and It’s Under $50 For Labor Day
- Drew Barrymore’s $15 3-Piece Silicone Utensil Set Is a ‘Simple, Reliable, and Stylish’ Kitchen Upgrade