Ajinkya Rahane Steps Down As Captain To 'Groom A New Leader'

Ahead of the new domestic season, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has stepped down as Mumbai captain, which would allow the team to "groom a new leader." However, he will continue to play for the team solely as a batter.

Rahane, who also leads Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has led the Mumbai team to a Ranji Trophy title and, more recently, led them to an Irani Cup Trophy as well. 

"Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it's the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I've decided not to continue in the captaincy role," Rahane posted on X. 

"I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season."

Rahane has scored 5,932 runs for Mumbai in 76 first-class matches at an impressive average of 52.02, which includes 19 tons and 23 fifties. The batter has also scored over 5,000 runs for India in 85 matches.