The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Monday (November 9) named India’s T20 World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav as Mumbai's captain for the 2026-27 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), slated to begin on November 14.
This tournament marks Suryakumar's return to top-level competitive cricket for the first time since IPL 2026, following his omission from the national side due to an extended dip in form. He had previously been overlooked for the first phase of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign.
"The MCA is pleased to announce the Mumbai Senior Men's squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's premier domestic T20 competition. India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav will lead the Mumbai side, bringing his vast international experience, leadership and explosive batting prowess to the team. The squad features a blend of experienced international and domestic players along with promising young talent, reflecting Mumbai's continued commitment to excellence and nurturing the next generation of cricketers," the MCA said in a statement.
Reacting to his appointment as captain, Suryakumar said: "It is always a matter of immense pride to represent Mumbai. I am honoured to lead this talented group in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Mumbai has a rich cricketing legacy and a winning culture, and we will look to uphold those traditions. We have a good mix of experienced players and exciting young talent, and I am confident that the team will come together, play with intensity and give its best in every match. Our aim is to go all the way and bring the trophy home."
Despite making himself fully available for selection, Suryakumar Yadav was left out of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad because he had not played red-ball cricket since February 2025 and skipped pre-season training camps.
Subsequently, Surya plied his trade in the MCA organized President’s Cup, representing the MIG Cricket Club.
In another boost for Mumbai, senior all-rounder Shardul Thakur has also returned to the Mumbai squad for SMAT after recovering from a middle-finger fracture. Regular Ranji Trophy captain Siddhesh Lad has decided to skip the T20 tournament.
Alongside Suryakumar and Thakur, Mumbai’s SMAT squad includes India’s T20 regular Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, and Tushar Deshpande.
Mumbai will open their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign against Hyderabad on November 14.
Mumbai Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Atharva Ankolekar, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Shams Mulani, Divyansh Saxena, Maxwell Swaminathan, Suved Parkar, Tushar Deshpande, Musheer Khan, Shardul Thakur, Sarfaraz Khan, Mohit Avasthi, Sairaj Patil, Sylvester Dsouza, Shivam Dube, Hardik Tamore (wk).
