Rohit Sharma to play Vijay Hazare Trophy: Rohit Sharma to play 1st two matches as Mumbai announce Vijay Hazare Trophy squad, Shardul Thakur captain

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officially revealed Mumbai's squad for the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy on December 19, headlined by the inclusion of former Indian captain Rohit Sharma. The veteran opener is slated to participate in the first two matches of the domestic white-ball tournament, providing a significant boost to the team's top order and overall profile.

Rohit Sharma to play first two matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy

In a notable leadership choice, all-rounder Shardul Thakur has been appointed to captain the Mumbai side for the campaign. While the squad features several prominent names, India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav and young opening sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal are missing from the roster for this edition of the tournament.

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The group stage is scheduled to run from December 24 through January 8, 2026. Mumbai has been drawn in Elite Group C, where they will face off against Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Himachal, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Goa. According to reports from ESPNcricinfo, all of Mumbai's group-stage fixtures are set to take place in Jaipur.

Shardul Thakur to lead Mumbai in VHT

In a notable change to the team dynamic, veteran batter and former Indian captain Ajinkya Rahane will be absent from the lineup for the start of the tournament. The experienced leader officially requested a period of rest, leading him to sit out the initial league matches of Mumbai's campaign.

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The selection committee has also used this opportunity to introduce fresh talent, handing a maiden call-up to opening batter Ishan Mulchandani. Additionally, young prospect Angkrish Raghuvanshi has managed to retain his spot in the squad, despite a relatively quiet performance in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the selectors have shown continued faith in his potential.

The squad is further bolstered by the inclusion of Sarfaraz Khan, who enters the tournament in exceptional form following a dominant run in the domestic T20 circuit. In a move that highlights the depth of local talent, he will be joined by his younger brother, all-rounder Musheer Khan, as the siblings look to play a pivotal role in Mumbai’s quest for the trophy.

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