Ranji Trophy 2025: Mumbai vs Himachal Pradesh Preview — Shardul Thakur’s men aim to regain winning touch at BKC
The past couple of weeks have tested Mumbai’s resolve. After opening its Ranji Trophy campaign with a 35-run win over Jammu and Kashmir, the domestic powerhouse has stumbled in its last two outings, forced to settle for draws.
When it meets Himachal Pradesh in a Group D fixture at the MCA-BKC ground on Saturday, Mumbai will look to shake off those disappointments and return to winning ways. After the previous match against Rajasthan in Jaipur, captain Shardul Thakur expressed disappointment with the flat pitch. But at home, where the surface is expected to offer some turn from the second day, Mumbai will be banking on its spin duo of Shams Mulani and Himanshu Singh to make an impact.
With Yashasvi Jaiswal joining the Indian squad for the Test series against South Africa, Mumbai has made a single change, recalling Ayush Mhatre. In Jaipur, a first-innings batting collapse proved costly. In this crucial encounter, the onus will be on senior batters — Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, and Siddhesh Lad — to convert starts into meaningful scores. As Mumbai seeks to iron out its flaws, vice-captain Lad acknowledged that the next two home games could shape the team’s season.
Motivating test
Coming off a defeat against Hyderabad, Himachal Pradesh, too, will be aiming to get its campaign back on track. Captain Ankush Bains said that playing against Mumbai serves as motivation for his team.
“We don’t see playing against Mumbai as a challenge if we approach the game with a positive mindset. Performing well against a side like Mumbai helps players get noticed, and that’s why everyone is motivated,” Bains said. The team will rely on experienced hands like Pukhraj Mann, Akash Vasisth, and Mayank Dagar to step up.
Mumbai began the season as one of the favourites, but two successive draws have stalled its progress. Back on familiar turf, the 42-time champion will be eager to script a turnaround.
Published on Nov 07, 2025
