Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Spotlight on Sarfaraz as Mumbai takes on Chhattisgarh on home turf
On the eve of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy group league fixture against Chhattisgarh, its batters sweated out in the nets on Friday.
Sarfaraz Khan was seen busy with catching drills. Guided by fielding coach Atul Ranade, he and Himanshu Singh had a long session, taking some sharp catches.
Sarfaraz appeared calm — he also cracked a few jokes — despite the fact that the cricketing fraternity is seemingly divided over his absence from the India A squad.
When the match gets underway at the MCA-BKC ground, the 27-year-old batter will hope to do what he does best: piling on the runs — something Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur has also suggested.
After an injury lay-off, Sarfaraz returned to the team for the season-opener against Jammu and Kashmir, but a run-out on 42 – in the first innings – meant another missed opportunity for the batter.
With the spotlight on him again, Sarfaraz will look to cut out the noise. However, It is unlikely that he would shuffle his batting order, even though Mumbai will miss Ayush Mhatre and Tanush Kotian, who will be playing for India A against South Africa.
The young Angkrish Raghuvanshi will replace Mhatre, while Himanshu will come in for Kotian, and back on home turf, Mumbai will hope its top-order batters – Ajinkya Rahane and Musheer Khan – find form after their forgettable outings in Srinagar.
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Shams Mulani, who claimed nine wickets in the last game, will spearhead the spin department, while Tushar Deshpande and Shardul will handle the fast bowling unit.
After a defeat against Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh will be banking on Aditya Sarwate and Shashank Singh, who have played junior cricket in Mumbai.
Published on Oct 24, 2025
