Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the captain of Mumbai for the remaining league matches of the 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, replacing allrounder Shardul Thakur, who has been ruled out due to injury. The decision comes at a crucial stage of the tournament, with Mumbai well placed to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Shreyas Iyer Returns to Competitive Cricket After Injury
Mumbai, currently competing in Group C, will face Himachal Pradesh on January 6 and Punjab on January 8, with both matches scheduled to be played in Jaipur. Shreyas Iyer is expected to lead the side in both encounters.
The 31-year-old batter is making his return to competitive cricket after a long injury layoff. He has not featured in a match since October 25, when he suffered a spleen injury while attempting a catch during India’s tour of Australia. The injury resulted in internal bleeding from a spleen laceration, forcing him to miss India’s home series against South Africa.
Following his recovery, Shreyas was selected for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11. However, his final participation in the series will depend on fitness clearance from the Centre of Excellence (CoE). As part of his rehabilitation and return-to-play protocol, Shreyas played a practice match on January 2 and reportedly completed all physical drills without any discomfort. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is expected to help him regain match sharpness ahead of the international assignment.
Mumbai’s Strong Position and Leadership Transition
The Mumbai Cricket Association expressed confidence in Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, highlighting his experience and calm approach to the game. In an official statement, the association said that his tactical awareness and understanding of the game would be valuable as Mumbai aim to maintain their winning momentum.
Mumbai are currently second in Group C, having won four of their five league matches so far. With qualification to the knockout stage looking likely, the team could face another leadership change if Shreyas receives fitness clearance for the New Zealand ODI series. In that case, Mumbai may need to appoint a new captain for the latter stages of the tournament.
