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Shardul Thakur to Captain Mumbai in SMAT as Suryakumar Returns for Tune-Up

The selection underscores continuity under Thakur, with Suryakumar using early domestic T20 games to sharpen up before India’s South Africa T20Is.

Overview

  • Suryakumar Yadav has been named in Mumbai’s 17-member Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad but will play under captain Shardul Thakur.
  • Selectors finalized the squad a day after reports suggested Suryakumar would lead, reversing the early expectation and confirming Thakur’s role.
  • Suryakumar said Shubman Gill’s rapid rise into leadership motivates him and insisted he has “left fear long back,” pointing to a strong T20I win record as captain.
  • Mumbai open their SMAT campaign on November 26 in Lucknow, with Suryakumar and Shivam Dube expected to feature early before joining India for T20Is against South Africa starting December 9.
  • BCCI selectors were slated to name India’s T20I and ODI squads on November 23, with reports noting uncertainty over ODI captaincy should Shubman Gill remain unavailable due to a neck issue.