Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur to play for Mumbai in Irani Cup; Ajinkya Rahane to lead

Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur are set to represent Mumbai in the upcoming Irani Cup match against the Rest of India. The match is scheduled to take place from October 1 to 5 in Lucknow, with Ajinkya Rahane leading the Mumbai side. Rahane, who captained Mumbai to their 42nd Ranji Trophy victory earlier this year, will once again take charge of the team.
Shardul Thakur’s return comes as a significant boost to the squad. The India all-rounder, who has been recovering from an ankle surgery since June, recently participated in the KSCA tournament and has made himself available for the five-day fixture. The full Mumbai squad is expected to be announced soon.
Shreyas Iyer, who is eyeing a comeback to the Indian national team, will also play in this prestigious domestic fixture. Iyer has been out of the international spotlight after missing out on selection for the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. The Irani Cup could be a crucial opportunity for him to impress selectors ahead of upcoming international matches.
New National Cricket Academy to Be Unveiled on September 28
In other news, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru will be inaugurated on September 28. The state-of-the-art facility will feature three world-class playing grounds, 45 practice pitches, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and top-tier training and recovery facilities. This new academy is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Indian cricket.
The inauguration will take place just a day before BCCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which is also set to be held in Bengaluru.