The new ruling that mandates international cricketers to participate in domestic tournaments has really added much to the audience for events like the Ranji Trophy. The tournament now enters its crucial quarter-final stage on February 8, with many high-profile international stars joining the fray to further spice up the contest.
Defending champions Mumbai will be among the teams drawing major attention as they gear up to face Haryana in Rohtak. Their squad will be strengthened by the return of two key players—Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube—who have been representing India in the ongoing T20I series against England. Following the conclusion of the fifth and final T20I, both cricketers will rejoin the domestic setup to bolster Mumbai’s chances in the knockout fixture.
A reliable source from the Mumbai Cricket Association confirmed the availability of the duo for the quarter-finals, stating that the selection committee will soon meet to finalize the squad. “Yadav and Dube have informed us that they are available for the quarter-finals. The selection committee will meet soon and pick a squad for the same,” the source told The Indian Express.
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While Shivam Dube has been in excellent form, bagging the Player of the Match award in the fourth T20I against England in Pune, Suryakumar Yadav has endured a tough series. He is widely regarded as one of India’s most dynamic T20 batters and currently leads the national side in the shortest format, but Yadav has not found his rhythm so far.
🚨 GREAT NEWS FOR MUMBAI 🚨
– Shivam Dube & Suryakumar Yadav will be available for the Ranji trophy Quarter Final. [@pdevendra from Express Sports] pic.twitter.com/wiWvyETQaq
— ᴅɪᴘᴀᴋ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄɪᴀʟ 💫 (@DipakOfficial25) February 2, 2025
His five-game series against England brought him meagre returns, as he made only 28 runs at an abysmal average of 5.60. It’s quite unusual that a batsman of his calibre failed to cross 30 in any match and had to face two ducks in the opening and fourth matches. This sad run also resulted in him being the lowest-run Indian captain for a T20I series.
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Returning to domestic cricket suits Yadav very well, as he would look to regain his touch and confidence ahead of the international fixtures scheduled in the near future. Mumbai banked heavily on their star power, hopes that his return coincides with a resurgence in form as they push for another Ranji Trophy title.
