Former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is set to return to Mumbai’s club cricket circuit after being left out of the squad for the opening match of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. The experienced batter will reportedly feature in the President Cup on Sunday, October 11, as he looks to get regular game time and regain his batting rhythm.
Suryakumar’s decision comes at an important stage of his career. After losing the India T20I captaincy and subsequently finding himself out of the national setup, the 35-year-old is now focusing on getting back onto the field. The President Cup provides him with an opportunity to spend valuable time in the middle and prove his readiness for a return to first-class cricket.
The Mumbai batter was not included in the squad for the Ranji Trophy opener against Chandigarh, with selectors reportedly giving preference to younger players who have been involved in the team’s red-ball preparations. Suryakumar had also missed Mumbai’s pre-season camp, which played a significant role in the selection committee’s decision.
ALSO READ: Hanuma Vihari Says Sanju Samson May Feel ‘Insecure’ Amid Growing Competition for His Spot
An Indian Express journalist reported on X that Suryakumar had decided to play in the President Cup, a Mumbai-based club cricket competition, after his omission from the Ranji squad. The senior batter has also reportedly communicated his availability to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for the remainder of the Ranji Trophy season. According to reports, Suryakumar has informed MCA president Ajinkya Naik that he is available for Mumbai’s upcoming matches.
His absence from the pre-season camp, however, left him behind players who had already spent considerable time preparing for the red-ball season. Mumbai’s red-ball players had been training for approximately a month, with sessions held at the Cricket Club of India and the Mumbai Cricket Association’s BKC Ground.
Few days after Suryakumar Yadav’s name was omitted from Mumbai’s Ranji team. The batsman has decided to play President Cup which is club cricket in the city this Sunday.
— Devendra Pandey (@pdevendra) October 7, 2026
The selectors had reportedly attempted to contact Suryakumar around 10 days before announcing the Ranji Trophy squad. However, he did not respond at that stage and made himself available only later. With several younger players completing the entire pre-season programme, the selection committee reportedly felt that including Suryakumar would have meant leaving out someone who had prepared with the squad.
As a result, the selectors were understood to have unanimously decided to leave him out of the opening fixture against Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium on October 11.
ALSO READ: Ravindra Jadeja’s Cryptic Post On BCCI Selector Vacancy Goes Viral After Ajit Agarkar’s Exit
For Suryakumar, the President’s Cup could now serve as an important stepping stone. Regular competitive cricket will allow him to regain confidence, sharpen his batting and demonstrate his willingness to return to Mumbai’s first-class setup.
Suryakumar last represented India in a T20I against New Zealand in Ahmedabad in March. His omission from the national setup followed a difficult run with the bat, making regular cricket even more important as he looks to rebuild his form and remain in contention for future opportunities.
