Veteran Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has announced his decision to step down as the captain of Mumbai’s domestic cricket team. The 37-year-old made the announcement on Thursday, stating his belief that the time is right to hand over the leadership reins to a new, emerging talent. The decision comes ahead of the new domestic season, where Mumbai will be defending their titles.
Rahane, who led Mumbai to a Ranji Trophy victory in the 2023-24 season—ending a seven-year drought—shared his thoughts on the decision via social media. "Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role," he wrote in a post on X.
While stepping down from the captaincy, Rahane has no plans of retiring from the game. He confirmed his commitment to continue playing for the Mumbai team as a batter in all formats. "I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with Mumbai to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season," he added.
Having been a part of Mumbai’s domestic cricket for 19 seasons, Rahane’s leadership proved successful, guiding the team to not only the Ranji Trophy but also the Irani Trophy in the 2024-25 season.