In a significant development for Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign, the team will be without its trio of Indian cricket stars - Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer - for their crucial last league game against Meghalaya, set to start on Thursday (Jan 30, 2025).
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| Image Credits: India TV News |
The absence of these players, who are key to Mumbai's batting lineup, comes at a time when the team is fighting for a spot in the knockouts, currently sitting third in Elite Group A with 22 points.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, along with Jaiswal and Iyer, had previously featured in Mumbai's recent match against Jammu and Kashmir, where they struggled to make an impact. Their absence in the upcoming Ranji game is attributed to their commitments with the Indian team for the upcoming ODI series against England, starting on February 6, and preparations for the Champions Trophy.
This scenario has forced Mumbai to recall Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Atharva Ankolekar, and Suryansh Shedge to bolster their squad for this must-win encounter. Mumbai's challenge is further complicated by the fact that all-rounder Shivam Dube is also unavailable, having been inducted into India's T20I squad.
With the team needing a bonus-point win against Meghalaya to keep their knockout hopes alive and relying on results from other matches, the pressure is immense.
The absence of these international stars could be a significant blow in this must-win situation, but it also opens the door for emerging talents to prove their mettle on a big stage. Mumbai's fate now hangs in the balance, with their next match potentially defining their season.
