In a significant development in domestic cricket, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) has announced its tentative 28-member senior men’s squad for the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. A notable change in the squad is the shift in captaincy, with the MCA deciding to replace the 31-year-old Ankit Bawne as the team’s skipper. Indian batter and Chennai Super King’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed the new leader.
This decision was impending for two primary reasons: Maharashtra’s below-par performance under Bawne’s captaincy, failing to advance beyond the knockout stages in three out of the four seasons he led, and Gaikwad’s valuable captaincy experience gained during IPL 2024 under the mentorship of MS Dhoni.
Former Tamil Nadu head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, who led Tamil Nadu to the final of the premier domestic red-ball tournament in 2024, will undertake his first assignment with the squad when the 89th season of the Ranji Trophy begins this October. Kulkarni has been appointed as head coach of the Maharashtra side for an initial two-year term.
Notably, the squad will be refined and reduced as the tournament approaches. Among the 28-member provisional squad is the promising young all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni. Kulkarni made his IPL debut in 2024 and played his sole first-class match against Services, scoring 2 and 58 and claiming 2/41. He will be anticipated to be a player to watch this season.
Additionally, Rahul Tripathi, who represented Goa in the 2024 edition of the Ranji Trophy, has been included in the provisional lineup and is expected to be an impactful player of the unit moving forward.
The MCA’s announcement has generated excitement among fans, with the association tweeting: “New season, new squad! 💪 Here’s our probable team for the upcoming Ranji Trophy Season 2024-25. The stage is set for another thrilling season!”
As the new season approaches, the Maharashtra team, under new leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sulakshan Kulkarni’s guidance, is poised to make a strong impact in the upcoming Ranji Trophy.
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