Ajinkya Rahane steps down as Mumbai captain ahead of new season

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced that he will step down as captain of the Mumbai team ahead of the upcoming domestic season.

Rahane shared the news with his fans in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role.”

While confirming his decision, Rahane assured his commitment to the team as a player. “I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” he added.

Rahane’s tenure as skipper brought Mumbai significant success. In the 2023/24 season, he led the side to Ranji Trophy glory, followed by the Irani Cup triumph in 2024. Earlier, under his captaincy, Mumbai lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2022/23) and the Duleep Trophy (2022/23).

The 37-year-old has also captained India across formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Most recently, in the 2025 IPL season, he was appointed captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Rahane has 14000 runs in 201 First-Class matches so far with an average of 45.16 

With Rahane stepping aside, Mumbai will now look to groom a long-term leader. Two strong contenders for the role are most likely Shardul Thakur and Shreyas Iyer. Shardul has been named West Zone captain for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. 

Iyer, meanwhile, has shown his leadership qualities in the IPL, guiding Kolkata Knight Riders to the 2024 title and leading Punjab Kings to the 2025 final, performing consistently with the bat on both occasions.

Rahane is now preparing for his 19th First-Class season, and his numbers continue to highlight his stature in Indian cricket. In 201 First-Class matches, he has scored 14,000 runs, including 59 fifties and 41 centuries. Hence, now, without any added pressure of captaincy, how Rahane performs remains to be seen.   

Currently, Mumbai are busy playing the ongoing Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament under the captaincy of the 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre.

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