India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav and all-rounder Shivam Dubey will not feature in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 clash ahead of the T20I series against South Africa. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has allowed both the players to miss the Ranji Trophy matches to prepare for the T20 series against the Proteas.
Suryakumar was last seen in action during the five-match T20 series against Australia. The visiting team won the T20 series in Australia 2–1. Surya scored 84 runs in four innings at an impressive average of 28.00 and strike rate of 171.43. Dubey scored just 26 runs in two innings and took three wickets with the ball.
Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dubey will not play in Mumbai’s next Ranji Trophy match.
According to the Indian Express, Suryakumar Yadav has been ruled out of Mumbai’s upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Pondicherry. Suryakumar decided to focus on his white-ball preparations ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The Indian T20I captain has informed the Mumbai Cricket Association about his decision and confirmed his availability for the upcoming limited overs fixtures.
The MCA has also approved a similar request from Shivam Dubey, allowing him to skip the same Ranji match. Dubey wants to dedicate his time to preparing for the upcoming T20 series against South Africa.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had made it clear that centrally contracted players should play domestic cricket only if they have no commitments with the India national cricket team.
Tanush Kotian and Mohit Awasthi selected for Mumbai’s next Ranji Trophy match
Mumbai Cricket Association has agreed to Suryakumar Yadav’s request to miss the upcoming Ranji Trophy match, reports say. He has assured the association that he will be available for both the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy tournaments.
Shivam Dubey has also been allowed not to attend the program. Mumbai has included Tanush Kotian and Mohit Awasthi in the squad for the next Ranji match.
An MCA source confirmed, “Suryakumar Yadav has informed MCA that he will not be available and we have accepted his request as we feel that with the T20 World Cup around the corner, he should be more focused on it. He has informed us that he will be available for the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophy.”
“As far as Dubey is concerned, there is an upcoming T20 series against South Africa so he can prepare for that. The selectors have picked Tanush Kotian and Mohit Awasthi for Mumbai’s next Ranji Trophy match.”
India will face South Africa in a five-match T20 series in December.
The upcoming match will be the last round of the first phase of the ongoing Ranji Trophy, with the second phase resuming on January 22. India will take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series starting in Cuttack on December 9 and ending in Ahmedabad on December 19.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is scheduled to begin from November 26, followed by the Vijay Hazare Trophy from December 24. Indian players have a busy schedule due to domestic and international duties.
Suryakumar Yadav last played for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Vidarbha earlier this year, as his ongoing international commitments have kept him away from red-ball cricket since the start of the domestic season.
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