Prominent Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been excluded from Mumbai's squad for the upcoming 2025-26 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
The Mumbai Cricket Association's selection committee met on Friday, December 19, to finalise the team for the tournament, which is set to commence on Wednesday, December 24.
As per a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), players were reportedly encouraged to participate in at least two matches of the domestic List-A competition ahead of the home ODI series against New Zealand in January 2026. However, Mumbai selectors stated that the international players will be added to the squad once their availability is confirmed.
Rohit Sharma, in particular, had earlier spoken about his desire to return to domestic cricket to strengthen his long-term goals, similar to Virat Kohli, who has been included in Delhi's provisional squad for the tournament. As per a BCCI directive, players were required to play at least two domestic List-A matches ahead of the home ODI series against New Zealand in January 2026.
Mumbai To Add International Players Once Available; Rohit Sharma Keen On Domestic Return
Mumbai's selection panel stated that the international players will be included in the squad once their availability is confirmed. Meanwhile, opening batter Rohit Sharma had earlier voiced his willingness to return to domestic cricket to strengthen his long-term objectives, similar to Virat Kohli, who has been named in Delhi's provisional squad for the upcoming competition.
Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube are presently involved with India's T20I squad in the ongoing series against South Africa. Both players are also set to resume national commitments next month for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand.
“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.
Regarding Yashasvi Jaiswal's absence, the opening batter is presently recuperating from gastroenteritis after representing Mumbai in the latter part 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 provided an encouraging update on social media on December 19, confirming that he is recovering well from the illness.