Ajinkya Rahane has left Mumbai’s captaincy ahead of the Ranji Trophy season, saying it is the right time to find a new captain. Rahane announced his decision on social media, and the veteran wants to contribute as a player.

“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,” Rahane wrote on X.

“I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” he added.

Under his guidance, Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy in 2023-24, defeating Vidarbha in the final. He also led Mumbai to success in the Irani Cup (2024-25) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2022-23).

In 201 first-class matches, he has scored 14,000 runs. Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sarfaraz Khan can take the team forward. Suryakumar is the current T20I skipper of Team India, while Iyer has led Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League. Iyer and Suryakumar are the front-runners to replace Rahane.

Rahane played for KKR in IPL 2025, amassing 390 runs from 13 matches. The three-time champions are likely to release him before the next season.

The upcoming Ranji Trophy season starts on October 15, with Mumbai taking on Jammu and Kashmir in their opening contest.