The Ranji Trophy season has been ongoing, with the knockout rounds now in place, and several international players are shaping up for the red ball cricket, ahead of their international Test series. Mumbai will be facing Karnataka in the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season. It is going to be a blockbuster clash with both teams having showcased superb form ahead of their match.
Mumbai has recalled two of their best cricketer ahead of their important clash starting on February 6th, captain Shardul Thakur is back in the side alongside left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. The former missed out on two games due to an injury that he sustained while playing for Mumbai in their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Maharashtra in Jaipur on January 3, 2026.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is back after a long time
On the other hand, Jaiswal last played a competitive match on January 6, 2026, for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 against Himachal Pradesh in Jaipur. However, he missed out on the last two Elite Group D matches of the Ranji Trophy against Hyderabad and Delhi, with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) unhappy about Jaiswal’s decision of Yashasvi Jaiswal of skipping the final two group stage games.
Yashasvi Jaiswal last played a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai against Rajasthan in Jaipur in the first week of November 2025 and scored 67 and 156 runs in two innings. Since then, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been absent from red-ball domestic cricket. The return of the opener will surely boost the confidence of the side.
Will Siddesh Lad shine against Karnataka?
Except for him, Siddhesh Lad, the star batter, is going through a purple patch as he has scored five centuries to his name in the ongoing season. He will be crucial in the knockout game against Karnataka. Along with him, star batter Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, and Tushar Deshpande are other players included in Mumbai’s squad for the quarterfinal match.
Former Mumbai captain Ajinkya Rahane has not been left out of the squad. The veteran Indian batter last featured in a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai against Himachal Pradesh in Mumbai from November 8 to 10, 2025. In the game, he failed to impress, scoring just two runs.
Mumbai is still finding its way against Karnataka
Mumbai did not lose a single game in their group stage, winning four and drawing three, and topped their group before qualifying for the knockouts. On the other hand, Karnataka lost one of their group games, finishing second in the points table. They have a new captain, Devdutt Paddikal, who replaced Mayank Agarwal.
In the last five encounters between these two side Karnataka has the upper hand, winning three and drawing two of the games. It is their first meeting since 2020, when Karnataka won the game by 5 wickets. Mumbai will look to change things around this time, remembering their records.
Mumbai squad:
Shardul Thakur (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Musheer Khan, Akhil Herwadkar, Siddesh Lad, Sarfaraz Khan, Aakash Anand (WK), Hardik Tamore (WK), Sairaj Patil, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Mohit Awasth, Omkar Tarmale, Divyesh Saxena, and Suryansh Shedge.
Also Read: RCB star Devdutt Padikkal named Karnataka captain as KL Rahul returns for Ranji Trophy
