Suryakumar Yadav is back in domestic T20 cricket, but not in the role most expected. A day after early reports suggested he would captain Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), the selectors have gone the other way. On Friday, Mumbai announced a 17-member squad with Shardul Thakur named captain, while Suryakumar joins as a senior pro looking for game time.
Shardul already leads Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, and the management clearly wants continuity. SKY, meanwhile, needs runs more than he needs the armband. After a brutal dip in international form, this SMAT is less about captaincy and more about rediscovering rhythm before India’s home T20Is against South Africa starting December 9.
Suryakumar chasing form before IND vs SA T20Is
Even with a monster IPL 2025 behind him, where he scored 717 runs at 167.91 SR, Suryakumar’s year in India colours has been rough. In T20Is this year he has just 184 runs in 15 innings, averaging 15.33. The decline has been severe for a player who was once regarded as India’s greatest T20 batter since Rohit Sharma.
This SMAT stint gives him a clear window of six to seven games in Lucknow, and at this point, and Suryakumar would love to hammer some runs. India have a long white-ball run ahead, and with the T20 World Cup 2026 just months away, India need SKY firing again. Mumbai benefit too. They are defending champions, and a fully engaged Suryakumar alongside Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan and Ajinkya Rahane makes them one of the strongest sides on paper.
Shardul Thakur takes charge of a strong Mumbai squad
For Shardul, this is a chance to build on Mumbai’s white-ball direction. He is already leading the team in the Ranji Trophy and Mumbai are on top of Group D thereafter the first leg. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) seems to be impressed with Thakur, who recently switched to the Mumbai Indians (MI) in an IPL trade. The squad is deep, experienced and balanced. Alongside the senior names, Mumbai have kept faith in youngsters like Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Musheer Khan and Suryansh Shedge, who had the best SR last season. CSK’s Ayush Mhatre has also been selected.
Mumbai start their campaign against Railways on November 26 in Lucknow. Suryakumar’s form will be the talking point, but how Shardul leads this star-studded group will be exciting too.
Mumbai’s squad for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025
Shardul Thakur (capt), 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)
Mumbai’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy schedule (Group Stage)
- Wed, Nov 26, 2025: Mumbai vs Railways, 10:00 AM (IST)
- Fri, Nov 28, 2025: Mumbai vs Vidarbha, 1:30 PM (IST)
- Sun, Nov 30, 2025: Andhra vs Mumbai, 1:30 PM (IST)
- Tue, Dec 2, 2025: Assam vs Mumbai, 1:30 PM (IST)
- Thu, Dec 4, 2025: Kerala vs Mumbai, 10:00 AM (IST)
- Sat, Dec 6, 2025: Chhattisgarh vs Mumbai, 10:00 AM (IST)
- Mon, Dec 8, 2025: Mumbai vs Odisha, 1:30 PM (IST)
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