Shreyas Iyer replaces injured Shardul Thakur as Mumbai skipper

Shreyas Iyer has been named captain of Mumbai for the remainder of their Vijay Hazare Trophy Group C matches, replacing injured skipper Shardul Thakur. Iyer’s fitness will also determine his participation in India’s ODI series against New Zealand

New Delhi: Shreyas Iyer has been appointed captain of Mumbai for the remainder of their Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group C matches in Jaipur, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced on Monday.

Iyer takes over the captaincy from regular skipper Shardul Thakur, who has been sidelined for the rest of the competition due to injury. Mumbai are currently second in Group C and will face Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday, followed by Punjab on January 8.

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“The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is pleased to announce that Shreyas Iyer has been appointed as the captain of the Mumbai senior men’s team for the remaining league matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” MCA Secretary Prof Dr Unmesh Khanvilkar said in a statement.

“Shreyas Iyer will take over the leadership responsibilities in place of Shardul Thakur, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. An experienced international cricketer with proven leadership credentials, Shreyas Iyer brings calmness, tactical acumen, and a strong understanding of the game. The Association is confident that under his captaincy, the Mumbai team will continue to perform with determination and uphold Mumbai cricket’s rich legacy. The MCA wishes Shardul Thakur a speedy recovery and extends its best wishes to Shreyas Iyer and the entire squad for the upcoming matches.”

Interestingly, Iyer has also been named in India’s squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting in Vadodara on January 11. His inclusion depends on fitness clearance after playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy games for Mumbai.

If Iyer clears his fitness tests, the MCA will need to appoint a new captain for the knockout stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, beginning January 12 at the BCCI CoE Grounds in Bengaluru. Iyer was out of action after suffering a serious spleen injury while attempting a diving catch of Australia’s Alex Carey in the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground in October last year.