Live Update: Siddhesh Lad and Ayush Mhatre lead the young Mumbai team in search of a record 43rd Ranji Trophy title. Mumbai will begin their campaign against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium.
Siddhesh Lad and Ayush Mhatre lead young Mumbai team in search of record 43rd Ranji Trophy title (Source: Adfactors PR) Ctain Siddhesh Lad and vice-ctain Ayush Mhatre are aiming for a record 43rd Ranji Trophy title as a young and energetic Mumbai team take on Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. At a pre-season press conference organized by the Mumbai Cricket Association at the Wankhede Stadium, Lad and Mhatre shared their views on the team’s preparations, tactical proach and ambitions for the upcoming red-ball season. Mumbai Ctain Lad spoke about the responsibility of carrying forward the team’s rich legacy and stressed the importance of acceng the pressure that comes with representing one of India’s most successful national cricket teams.
“Given Mumbai’s rich history, the 42 Ranji Trophy titles we have won and the legacy of the players who have represented the team, there will always be pressure when wearing the Mumbai jersey. But as a unit we want to embrace this pressure instead of running away from it. We understand the history and culture that comes with representing Mumbai and look forward to the season,” said Lad.
After being pointed to a leadership position, vice-ctain Mhatre spoke about taking responsibility and working with seniors. He said: “Being pointed Vice-President of Mumbai is a huge responsibility and a very proud moment for me, especially given the size of the team and the importance of the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai Cricket. The support I received from the team was excellent and I never felt like I was being treated differently because I am a young person.
Siddesh Lad supported me a lot and made sure that I always felt comfortable in the team. I also learned how important it is to stay calm on the field. We have always seen Mahendra Singh Dhoni stay calm and one of the things I learned from him is that anger can last for five minutes but decisions taken in anger can often be wrong.
Once you’ve calmed down, you’ll be able to think better. I tried to follow this proach, stay calm on the pitch and make better decisions for myself and the team. Mumbai’s 16-member squad combines experienced domestic campaigners with young, up-and-coming talent, with the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan providing depth and pedigree as the team begins its quest for a record 43rd Ranji Trophy title. Ctain Lad brings a wealth of first-class experience to the management group, having amassed over 5,600 runs throughout his domestic career.
As a key midfielder in the 2025-26 season, Lad has provided stability and resilience to Mumbai in pressure situations. Vice-ctain Mhatre continues his rise in domestic cricket. The 19-year-old opening batsman scored 660 runs in 13 first-class matches.
After returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him earlier this year, Mhatre’s composure at the top of the order will be a key asset for Mumbai’s batting line-up. Mumbai Squad for the first match of Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Siddhesh Lad (Ctain), Ayush Mhatre (Vice-Ctain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Divyansh Saxena, Musheer Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Suved Parkar, Aakash Anand (Week), Hardik Tamore (Week), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Atharva Ankolekar, Tushar Deshpande, Mohit Awasthi, Sylvester D’Souza, Onkar Tarmale.
