The Mumbai cricket team has received a significant boost ahead of the crucial final phase of the Vijay Hazare Trophy with the arrival of star batters Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube. This infusion of top-tier talent comes at a critical juncture in the domestic 50-over tournament.
Iyer Takes Over Captaincy After Thakur's Injury
Shreyas Iyer is set to assume the captaincy of the Mumbai side for their last two league matches. This change in leadership was necessitated after the regular skipper, Shardul Thakur, was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. Thakur sustained a calf injury during Mumbai's fifth-round encounter against Maharashtra.
The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary, Dr. Unmesh Khanvilkar, confirmed the development. He stated that Iyer would take over the leadership responsibilities as Thakur is currently unavailable for selection due to his injury.
A Crucial Comeback from Injury
For Iyer, this marks a vital return to competitive cricket. The 31-year-old batter has been recovering from a serious spleen injury—a laceration with internal bleeding—which he suffered during India's ODI series in Australia back in October 2025.
His return is timely, coinciding with his recent appointment as vice-captain of the Indian ODI team for the upcoming series against New Zealand, subject to medical clearance. Iyer integrated with the Mumbai squad during a training session on Monday morning, participating in fielding drills and having a batting stint in the nets.
Mumbai's Final Push in Jaipur
Mumbai's campaign now moves into its decisive stage with two final league matches scheduled in Jaipur. The team is set to face Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, January 6, followed by their last league outing against Punjab on Thursday, January 8. Both matches will be played at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground in Jaipur.
In another positive update for the team, the in-form batter Sarfaraz Khan is likely to make a comeback to the playing eleven for the Tuesday match. He had missed the previous game against Maharashtra due to quadriceps pain.
The arrival of Iyer, along with the explosive batting prowess of Suryakumar Yadav and the all-round abilities of Shivam Dube, significantly strengthens Mumbai's lineup as they aim to secure a strong position heading into the knockout stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
