Rahane steps down as Mumbai captain to groom a successor

Ajinkya Rahane has stepped down as Mumbai’s captain ahead of the domestic season, saying it is time to groom a new leader while he remains available to contribute as a batsman across formats. The 37-year-old announced the decision on social media, stressing his commitment to the team and to helping Mumbai win more trophies as the season begins.

In his post, Rahane said captaining and winning championships with Mumbai has been “an absolute honour,” and that with a new season approaching, it is the right moment to prepare a successor. He added that he will continue to give his best as a player and will maintain his association with the Mumbai Cricket Association to push the team forward. He stressed that his departure from the captaincy does not signal retirement or disengagement, but an intent to nurture leadership from within the squad.

Rahane’s tenure as captain coincided with a notable resurgence for Mumbai. Under his leadership the side clinched the Ranji Trophy in the 2023-24 season, ending a seven-year wait for the title. They followed that with an Irani Trophy triumph in 2024-25 and reclaimed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in the most recent campaign, with Rahane finishing as...