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'It is a team game...': Persistent absence from training camp reason behind SKY's exclusion from Mumbai Ranji team

Mumbai Cricket Association selectors have excluded Suryakumar Yadav from their 16-player Ranji Trophy squad for the season opener against Chandigarh, citing his repeated absence from pre-season training camps. The decision, made unanimously, prioritized younger talent over the former India T20 captain, who had not participated in the team’s month-long preparation despite being available for selection.

Yadav’s omission stems from his lack of recent first-class experience and delayed response when initially approached for the squad, leaving selectors with no viable alternative but to exclude a developing player instead. His exclusion applies only to the red-ball format, as his standing in limited-overs cricket remains unaffected, with selectors indicating he could still feature in upcoming domestic T20 and ODI tournaments during the 2026–27 season.

Meanwhile, Mumbai’s squad for the October 11–14 match at Wankhede Stadium includes rising stars like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan, alongside Shams Mulani and Tushar Deshpande, who recently impressed in India A’s unofficial Test series against Australia A. The team is also facing a setback with former Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur sidelined for at least a month due to a hand injury sustained during practice.

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