Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) fans can take a breath of relief as their respective key players have performed well in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025) tournament. With the confident batting from Ajinkya Rahane and Suryakumar Yadav, Mumbai got an easy win over Railways on November 26 at Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground. 

Mumbai went to play the match against Railways with their full force. Batters of the Railways cricket team tried their best to score a good amount of runs to challenge the star-studded opposition. Ashutosh Sharma played for Railways and played an attacking 30-ball, 61-run innings. His innings was laced with seven boundaries and three over-boundaries. Mohammad Saif was another Railways batter who performed strongly against Mumbai's bowling attack, which contained well-known names like Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, and Shivam Dube. Thakur was absolutely on fire with the new ball in hand. 

Mumbai got two wickets early in the match, but Railways endured the early blows and registered 158 for India in 20 overs mostly because of Sharma's 61 and Saif's 48-run innings. 

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Confident batting by Ajinkya Rahane and Suryakumar Yadav ahead of IPL 2025

The 159-run target was not hard enough for Mumbai to chase down. With limited quality bowling options, Railways could barely set any hurdle in front of Mumbai's strong batting line-up. Ayush Mhatre's early departure was soon covered up nicely by Rahane and then Yadav. Ajinkya Rahane, who will play IPL 2026 for Kolkata Knight Riders, scored 62 off 33. Interestingly, he hit five over boundaries and only one boundary to make the knock effective. Yadav joined him in the middle with some extra fireworks. The Mumbai Indians star got 47 off 30 with five 4s and two 6s. MI fans are definitely happy to see their star middle-order batter gaining momentum ahead of IPL 2026, as his recent individual performances with Team India were below average. 

In 15.5 overs, Mumbai defeated Railways in the SMAT 2025 today with 7 wickets in hand. Rahane was named Man of the Match for his batting performance. 

Mumbai have announced the T20 squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, where the Mumbai Indians star, who is also a star of the Indian national cricket team, has been included. 

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 will begin on November 26, when Mumbai will also begin their journey with the match against Railways. Shardul Thakur will lead the two-time Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy winners in the forthcoming edition. 

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Mumbai named Suryakumar Yadav in SMAT 2025-26 squad

Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian T20I captain and Mumbai Indians star, has also been named in the T20I squad. Before the five-match home T20I series against South Africa, which will begin on December 9, SKY will get some important match practice in the upcoming SMAT season.   

Suryakumar Yadav, the second-leading run-scorer in the IPL 2025, who set an example of consistent T20 batting during the IPL 2025, is struggling to perform consistently in the recent T20I matches. After a forgettable performance in the Asia Cup T20 2025, where the Indian T20I captain only scored 72 runs in six innings with an average of 18.00, including a highest score of 47 not out, Suryakumar Yadav finished the Australia T20I tour as the third leading run-scorer for India, but his dominant consistency is still missing. In the Australia tour, the Indian T20I skipper scored 39 not out, 1, 24, and 20 runs, respectively.  

Also, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Musheer Khan, Tanush Kotian, wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi, etc, are significant names in the Mumbai squad for the upcoming SMAT 2025-26. 

Mumbai squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 (SMAT 2025-26) 

Shardul Thakur (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Siddhesh Lad, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Sairaj Patil, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge, Atharva Ankolekar, Tanush Kotian, Shams Mulani, Tushar Deshpande, Irfan Umair, and Hardik Tamore (wk)

Rohit Sharma can feature in multiple domestic tournaments for Mumbai. If the rumors are to be believed, then 'Hitman' can play in two separate tournaments for his state team. Regarding this, he already talked with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). 

After returning from Australia, where he smashed a century and a half-century during the Australia vs. India 3-match ODI series, Sharma has been paying focus on his fitness and recovery. His body transformation is visibly clear; he is now looking a lot fitter than before. After the conclusion of the ODI series, Sharma returned to India and joined his Mumbai teammates for training. 

There were multiple videos on social media platforms where we could see the batter spending some time with the Mumbai cricket team players. From then on, it was speculated that he might be playing for his state time. Now, the speculations can turn true.

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Rohit Sharma ready to play for Mumbai in domestic cricket

As per the latest reports, Rohit Sharma is all set to play domestic cricket for Mumbai. He already spoke with the Mumbai Cricket Association about his desire to play domestic matches. It is believed that if things work according to plan, then the former India captain can play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as well as the upcoming edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. Rohit Sharma's last domestic match was a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai against Jammu and Kashmir in January 2025. He returned to domestic cricket after a nearly decade-long break, playing against Jammu and Kashmir on January 23, 2025. Though, his comeback in domestic cricket was not a memorable account. 

According to media reports, "Rohit Sharma has informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) that he will be available to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and also he might be available for the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament scheduled to start on November 26."

At the age of 38, when most of the cricketers were thinking about retirement, Rohit Sharma was walking on a different path. Instead of showing any signs of slowing down, the former India skipper is trying to dig out his best-ever version.

Recently, some photos of Sharma have caught cricket fans' attention on the social media platform 'X.'. After returning from Australia, Sharma straightway pays some focus on training again. Before the Australia vs. India 3-match, which was recently concluded, the opener surprised everyone by losing some weight. Against Australia, he looked in good shape. Now, it seems that Rohit wants to lose some more weight to gain the best possible fitness.

After the conclusion of the ODI series, where the batter scored a hundred as well, he joined his Mumbai teammates. Some of the recently published photos on the social media platform suggested that Sharma might have lost some more weight.

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Through the photos viewers can see some glimpses of his training sessions with Dhawal Kulkarni and Shardul Thakur. It is claimed that Rohit is doing his training sessions with the Ranji team of Mumbai. Cricket fans are curious to know whether there is any chance to see Rohit Sharma featured in the Ranji Trophy 2025 match with the Mumbai cricket team.

Rohit Sharma to play Ranji Trophy 2025 match?

Mumbai is scheduled to face Himachal Pradesh next, starting tomorrow. As of now, to see Rohit batting for Mumbai against Himachal is unlikely to happen. 

Another update is that he is unlikely to play for the India A team against the South Africa A team as well. Same for Virat Kohli. Birth, Virat, and Sharma are unlikely to feature for India A vs. South Africa A matches. 

After Prithvi Shaw, it was Shivam Dube's turn to show his muscle power during the Mumbai vs Maharashtra practice match ahead of the Ranji Trophy campaign. The match was already on the headline because of Prithvi Shaw's 220-ball 181 against his former side and then a moment of heated exchange with Musheer Khan, brother of India star batter Sarfaraz Khan. Because of some brilliant batting display, Maharashtra scored 465-3 in their first innings, with Arshin Kulkarni scoring 186 in just 140 balls.

In reply, only Shivam Dube from the Mumbai side who made the Maharashtra bowlers toil. The proven pace bowling allrounder came to bat at Number 4 and scored his hundred in 62 balls. In 90 overs, they registered 320-9 in their first innings in the multi-day practice match. During his hundred-run innings, Dube smashed 9 sixes and 5 boundaries. One of the highlights of his dominating was during an over of Hitesh Walunj. Against the left-arm spinner, he smashed four consecutive sixes in a single over. After the Asia Cup 2025 triumph with team India, the allrounder is looking in tremendous form for domestic cricket as well.

Shivam Dube has played 25 first-class matches thus far since his debut in 2017, scoring 1,541 runs at 44.02. He has also taken 58 wickets, including best figures of 7-53.

Dube's stepout sixers in Warm up Game 👀📈 pic.twitter.com/GGRm0CZy9o

— MINATO 💛⚡ (@bharathraj1412) October 10, 2025

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The Senior Selection Committee of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced a 16-member squad to represent Mumbai in the upcoming Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled to be played from October 15 to 18, 2025, at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. Experienced allrounder Shardul Thakur named as the captain of the team for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. 

Mumbai’s squad for Ranji Trophy: 

Shardul Thakur (c), Ayush Mhatre, Akash Anand (wk), Hardik Tamore (wk), Siddhesh Lad, Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Sylvester D’Souza, Irfan Umair, Musheer Khan, Akhil Herwadkar, Royston Dias. 

Prithvi Shaw, a former Indian Test batter, was involved in a heated argument with some Mumbai players and Musheer Khan after being dismissed just short of a double-century in a Ranji Trophy warm-up match. The 25-year-old cricketer from Mumbai has previously done well early in his career, in particular during the U19 World Cup. Shaw has also played five Test matches for India, scoring his maiden hundred in the second innings of his debut match.

Shaw has scored nearly 4,500 runs in first-class cricket, playing more than 58 matches for Mumbai in domestic cricket. He has 13 centuries to his name, with his highest score being 379. However, after some inconsistent performances, Shaw was left out of the Mumbai squad for the season. He then moved to the Maharashtra team for the 2025-26 domestic season.

Since joining Maharashtra, Shaw has made a strong start. In a warm-up match against his former team Mumbai, he scored a brilliant hundred on Day 1. After being dismissed by Musheer Khan, who bowls part-time off-spin and is the brother of Sarfaraz Khan, Shaw got into a heated argument with him and some Mumbai players. The umpire had to intervene and split the players apart, taking Shaw to the changeroom to prevent further issues.

Strong Partnership and Season Plans

Shaw opened the innings with Arshin Kulkarni, and the two put on a massive opening partnership, totaling 305 runs. Kulkarni scored an impressive 186 off 140 balls, while Shaw made 116 off 159 balls. Kulkarni was dismissed in the 50th over, and Shaw added another 65 runs before being out for 181 off 219 balls.

Watch the video here

Heated exchange between Prithvi Shaw and Mumbai players after his wicket! pic.twitter.com/l9vi1YgeYs

— INSANE (@1120_insane) October 7, 2025

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Meanwhile, Maharashtra would start their 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season against Kerala on October 15, and then play Chandigarh. They would then play Saurashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh. Shaw would look to test himself with the Indian selectors, hoping to regain his national team place from where he was dropped. Once tipped to be the future of Indian cricket, Shaw is eager to prove that he has not lost his touch to excel at the top level.

Lionel Messi, the football legend and 2022 World Cup-winning captain, has confirmed that he will be visiting India this December. Describing it as an “honour” to return to the country, Messi expressed excitement about meeting Indian fans after 14 years since his last visit. 

“It is such an honour for me to make this trip. India is a very special country, and I have good memories from my time there 14 years ago ,the fans were fantastic,” Messi said in an official statement. “India is a passionate football nation, and I look forward to meeting a new generation of fans while sharing the love I have for this beautiful game.”

The four-city tour, part of the GOAT Tour 2025, will begin in Kolkata and conclude in New Delhi, featuring football, concerts, and special events.

Messi GOAT Tour 2025 – Schedule

Tickets for events in Kolkata are expected to start at Rs 3,500. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the programme.

Messi’s Previous Visit to India

Messi first visited India in 2011, playing a friendly against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. That match was also his first as Argentina captain.

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Possible November Visit: Argentina Team in Kerala

The Argentina men’s football team, coached by Lionel Scaloni, is scheduled to play a FIFA international friendly in India during the November window (10–18 November). While the venue is likely to be Kerala, the opponents are yet to be confirmed.

A source from Kerala stated: “I will be surprised if the legendary footballer comes twice in a month. However, it is most likely that the Argentina team minus Messi may come to play in Kerala.”

Messi’s Achievements

Messi’s December tour is expected to be one of the biggest football-related events ever staged in India, attracting fans from across the country to celebrate the GOAT of football.

The 25-year-old Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw is set to make his debut for Maharashtra, as the former Mumbai cricketer has been selected in his new team for the upcoming All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai. 

The All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament will run between August 18 and September 9, 2025. Maharashtra and Mumbai have announced their squads for this tournament. After leaving the Mumbai team, it will be the first cricket event for Prithvi Shaw for Maharashtra.

Due to significant disciplinary issues along with poor fitness, Mumbai cricketer Shaw was dropped from the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season. Later, the 2018 U19 World Cup-winning captain requested a no-objection certificate from Mumbai to join Maharashtra. Last July, Shaw officially moved to his new domestic cricket team.

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Prithiv Shaw last served for India in 2021

After making his international cricket debut in October 2018, Shaw has played five Tests, six ODIs, and one T20I. His last international match was in July 2021, when India toured Sri Lanka. In recent years, he has been mostly in controversy for his lack of discipline and fitness issues. He also went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. 

While Ankit Bawane will lead Maharashtra in the upcoming All India Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, Ruturaj Gaikwad is also in the squad. However, Gaikwad and Saurabh Nawale are likely to leave the Maharashtra squad after the first game of the tournament, as they will serve for the West Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025-26. 

Sarfaraz Khan and Musheer Khan are in Mumbai squad

Rohit Sharma could soon be back in domestic cricket, with reports suggesting the India ODI captain may turn out for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scheduled to start on December 24. The development comes amid murmurs about his and Virat Kohli’s future in the 50-over format, with the 2027 ODI World Cup four years away.

The BCCI, keen to keep senior players match-ready, is reportedly considering asking both stalwarts to feature in the premier domestic List-A competition. The logic is simple: consistent game time at all levels will help assess whether the veterans still have the form and fitness to remain part of India’s long-term ODI plans.

For Rohit, this could be a significant return. The last time he played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was in October 2018, when Mumbai won the tournament. He featured in two knockout matches that season, remaining unbeaten on 33 in the quarter-final against Bihar and scoring 17 in the semi-final against Hyderabad. He missed the final due to national duty, as India faced the West Indies in an ODI the very next day.

Kohli’s Vijay Hazare absence has been even longer; he last played for Delhi in February 2010, scoring 16 against Services. Should the selectors insist on their participation in 2025-26, it would mark a rare domestic one-day appearance for both.

ALSO SEE: From the archive: Full scorecard of Virat Kohli's last domestic List A match

Domestic Return Hinges on Form and 2027 World Cup Plans

India’s schedule complicates matters. After ODIs against Australia in October and South Africa in late November-early December, the Vijay Hazare Trophy will slot in before the New Zealand ODI series starting January 11. Realistically, if Rohit and Kohli are selected for that series, their availability for most VHT games will be minimal.

At this stage, the prospect of seeing the two legends play in the competition depends on two factors: their ODI form in the upcoming six matches before the VHT, and the selectors’ vision for the 2027 World Cup. If they fire against Australia and South Africa, the domestic outing may become unnecessary. But if it runs dry, the VHT could become their proving ground.

For now, Mumbai fans can only hope the possibility turns into reality, a chance to see Rohit Sharma don the Mumbai colours in the Vijay Hazare Trophy once again.

The emerging team of Mumbai cricket faced a major setback during their England tour. Due to injury reasons, Mumbai and Kolkata Knight Riders' cricketer Angkrish Raghuvanshi will return to India from the tour.

According to the latest updates, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has yet to announce the replacement for the young keeper-batter. As per reports, Raghuvanshi sustained a finger injury in his right hand. A possible minor fracture in his thumb forced him to take a flight back home.

MCA arranged this tour to enhance the skills and techniques of their emerging players along with the experience they had been gaining in the overseas conditions. This can help them to grow as a cricketer with a much more matured mind. With that vision, MCA announced a 17-member squad for the tour, which started on June 28.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is considered as one of the major emerging players of Mumbai and the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a couple of IPL seasons with Kolkata Knight Riders, the 21-year-old has played 22 matches so far and scored 463 runs with an average of 28.93, including a 54-run knock. After an underwhelming IPL 2025 season, his stint with the SoBo Mumbai Falcons proved more fruitful for their collective efforts as a team. They reached the final but fell short by a few inches against the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals. 

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Mumbai squad with emerging talents:

Suryansh Shedge (Capt.), Vedant Murkar (vice-capt.), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (injured), Ayush Vartak, Ayush Zimare, Himanshu Singh, Manan Bhatt, Musheer Khan, Nikhil Giri, Pragnesh Kanpillewar, Pratik Yadav, Prem Devkar, Rishikesh Gore, Harsh Aghav, and Harshal Jadhav. Prince Badiani, and Zaid Patankar.

Coach: Ramesh Powar; assistant coach: Deepak Patil; manager: Armaan Mallick; physiotherapists: G. Suresh Kumar and Vinayak Parteki; analyst: Shankar Tanna.