In a massive boost for Mumbai’s domestic campaign, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and star all-rounder Shivam Dube are set to return to the squad for the final two group-stage fixtures of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Both players recently concluded a successful five-match T20I series against South Africa, which India clinched with a 3-1 victory. As per a PTI report, the duo will be available for the high-stakes encounters against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, scheduled for January 6 and 8 in Jaipur.
Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube to play two matches of VHT
Mumbai finds itself in a competitive Group C, contending with a diverse field that includes Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Goa. The addition of experienced international stars is expected to solidify their standing as they look to advance beyond the preliminary round.
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Adding to the team's firepower, prolific opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal is also expected to feature in a portion of the tournament. Jaiswal, who recently impressed in the Ranji Trophy with scores of 67 and 156 against Rajasthan, is currently sidelined while recovering from a bout of gastritis but is anticipated to return once fit.
Rohit Sharma to feature in 1st two matches of VHT
Meanwhile, legendary batter Rohit Sharma, who has now transitioned to focusing exclusively on the ODI format, will provide early-season momentum for the side. He is slated to be available for Mumbai’s opening two matches against Sikkim and Uttarakhand on December 24 and 26, marking a rare and highly anticipated domestic appearance for the veteran.
Notably, former India captain Ajinkya Rahane will be noticeably absent from the lineup as the tournament begins. The experienced campaigner has officially requested a period of rest, a move that sidelines him for the initial league matches of the campaign and opens up a void in the middle order for others to fill.
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Further strengthening the roster is the inclusion of Sarfaraz Khan, who returns to the squad riding a wave of momentum after a dominant and high-scoring run in the domestic T20 circuit. In a heartening development for local fans, he will be joined by his younger brother, all-rounder Musheer Khan. The siblings are expected to be pivotal to Mumbai's middle-order stability and overall quest to reclaim the trophy this season.
Mumbai squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy:
Rohit Sharma (two matches), Shardul Thakur (captain), Hardik Tamore (wicketkeeper), Ishan Mulchandani, Shams Mulani, Musheer Khan, Tanush Kotian, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Tushar Deshpande, Sarfaraz Khan, Onkar Tarmale, Siddesh Lad, Sylvester Dsouza, Chinmay Sutarm Sairaj Patil, Akash Anand (wicketkeeper), Suryanash Shedge
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