Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav among big names missing from Mumbai squad for VHT 2025-26

High-profile Team India stars Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, are not a part of the Mumbai squad for the upcoming 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) selection panel convened on Friday, December 19, to finalise the squad for the tournament scheduled to begin from Wednesday, December 24 onwards.

According to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) mandate, players were reportedly requested to feature in at least two matches in the domestic List-A trophy ahead of the home ODI series against New Zealand in January 2026.

The Mumbai selectors clarified that the international players will be drafted into the squad once their availability is confirmed. Opening batter Rohit Sharma had expressed his interest in returning to domestic cricket to cement his long-term ambitions, like Virat Kohli, who has been named in Delhi's provisional squad for the upcoming tournament.

Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube are currently part of the Indian T20I side embroiled in a T20I series against South Africa. The pair will soon return to national duty for the five-match T20I series against the Blackcaps next month as well.

"All these India players will be accommodated in the Mumbai squad when they are available. If they aren't available, it's not right to name them in the squad and deprive a youngster of a place in the team," Mumbai's senior selection committee chairman Sanjay Patil told TOI.

As far as Yashasvi Jaiswal's absence is concerned, the opening batter is currently recovering from gastroenteritis after featuring for Mumbai in the latter stages of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) campaign.

"He will be included in the Mumbai squad once he gets clearance from the medical team," Patil added.

Yashasvi Jaiswal shared a promising update on social media on December 19, assuring everyone of his recovery from the illness.

Mumbai to begin 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign with clash against Sikkim

The Shardul Thakur-led side, placed in Group C, will kickstart their campaign with a clash against Sikkim in Jaipur on December 24. Meanwhile, the three-match ODI series between India and New Zealand is scheduled to begin on January 11, right after the group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy is concluded.

The Mumbai squad includes the in-form Sarfaraz Khan, while the duo of Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Musheer Khan also find a place. However, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane is set to miss the initial few matches of the tournament as he is nursing a hamstring injury.