Follow Us37-year-old veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane began the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season in a really lacklustre fashion, scoring just 27 in the first innings and a four-ball duck in the second innings during Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy fixture against Jammu & Kashmir.
With him, the other Mumbai batters faltered in the second innings, especially after gaining a 61-run first innings lead, and were bowled out for 181, giving the hosts a realistic chance to chase down the target.
Rahane had scored 27 in the first innings but failed to open his account in the second, falling in just four deliveries. With Mumbai losing wickets quickly, only three batters managed to cross the 30-run mark, with Shams Mulani top-scoring with 41.
Jammu & Kashmir ended day three at 21/1, needing 222 more runs for victory on the final day. Right-arm pacer Auqib Nabi, who recently took four wickets in four deliveries during the Duleep Trophy, played a key role for Jammu & Kashmir, picking up five wickets in the second innings and contributing to Mumbai’s collapse.
Meanwhile, Rahane, who previously captained both India and Mumbai, had an average domestic season in 2024–25, scoring 467 runs in nine matches at an average of 35.92. Ahead of the current season, Shardul Thakur was named the new captain of Mumbai, replacing Rahane.
At 37, Rahane is among the senior-most players in the Mumbai squad, which includes emerging talents such as Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who are being seen as the next generation of batters but are still waiting for an opportunity in the side.