In a significant boost for domestic cricket, India's captain Rohit Sharma is set to make a return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced its squad for the 2025-26 edition of the prestigious domestic one-day tournament, and Sharma's name features prominently.
Rohit Sharma's Limited Participation Confirmed
The MCA has confirmed that the star batter will play two matches for the Mumbai team during the upcoming season. This move is seen as a way for the senior player to get some valuable game time in the 50-over format ahead of a busy international calendar. Sharma's presence is expected to draw significant attention to the domestic tournament and provide invaluable experience to the younger players in the squad.
Mumbai's 22-Member Squad and Leadership
The association has named a strong 22-member squad for the competition. The team will be led by experienced batsman Shreyas Iyer, who takes on the captaincy role. The squad announcement was made by the MCA's Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), which is chaired by former India player Abey Kuruvilla.
Apart from Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, the squad includes several other notable names with international and extensive domestic experience. The full list of players selected is as follows:
- Rohit Sharma
- Shreyas Iyer (Captain)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Prithvi Shaw
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Shivam Dube
- Shams Mulani
- Tanush Kotian
- Dhawal Kulkarni
- Tushar Deshpande
- Mohit Avasthi
- Armaan Jaffer
- Bhupen Lalwani
- Hardik Tamore (WK)
- Prasad Pawar (WK)
- Aditya Shinde
- Sairaj Patil
- Atif Attarwala
- Royston Dias
- Siddharth Raut
- Dhrumil Matkar
- Ravi Solanki
Strategic Importance and Domestic Cricket Boost
The inclusion of a global superstar like Rohit Sharma in the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad is a major development for Indian domestic cricket. It underscores the importance senior players place on the tournament and sets a powerful example for commitment to the grassroots level of the game. His participation, even if limited, will offer a massive morale boost to the team and provide a unique learning opportunity for budding cricketers sharing the dressing room.
With Shreyas Iyer at the helm, Mumbai will look to leverage a blend of explosive young talent and seasoned campaigners to mount a serious challenge for the trophy. The team boasts a powerful batting line-up and a varied bowling attack, making them one of the pre-tournament favorites.
The decision reflects a growing trend where established Indian team members are occasionally turning out for their state sides, thereby strengthening the competitive standard of domestic tournaments and keeping themselves match-fit in specific formats.
