Ruturaj Gaikwad. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In a fresh development concerning domestic cricket, the Maharashtra Cricket Association has unveiled its tentative 28-member senior men’s squad for the 2024-25 season of the Ranji Trophy.
A significant alteration in the squad is the change in captaincy. The Maharashtra Cricket Association has confirmed its decision to part ways with the 31-year-old stalwart, Ankit Bawne, as the team’s leader. Indian batter, Ruturaj Gaikwad, has been appointed as the new captain.
The decision was foreseeable for two main reasons: Maharashtra’s underwhelming performance under Bawne’s captaincy, with the team failing to advance beyond the knockout stages in three out of the four seasons he led, and the fact that Gaikwad had the invaluable opportunity to gain captaincy experience during IPL 2024, benefiting from the guidance and support of MS Dhoni.
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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!#mca #maharashtracricketassociation #ranjitrophy #squadannouncement #maharashtracricket #cricket #ruturajgaikwad pic.twitter.com/DfdYtllcVC
— Maharashtra Cricket Association (@MahaCricket) July 25, 2024
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Sulakshan Kulkarni, the former head coach of Tamil Nadu, under whose stewardship the team reached the final of the prestigious premier domestic red-ball tournament in 2024, will undertake his initial assignment with the squad when the 89th iteration of the Ranji Trophy begins this October. The ex-domestic cricketer has been appointed as head coach of the side for an initial two-year term.
Among the 28-member provisional squad, which will be further refined and reduced as the tournament approaches, is the promising young all-rounder, Arshin Kulkarni. Kulkarni, who made his IPL debut in 2024, played his sole first-class match against Services, scoring 2 and 58 and claiming 2/41. He is anticipated to be a player to watch this season.
Additionally, Rahul Tripathi, who represented Goa in the 2024 edition of the Ranji Trophy, has also been included in the provisional lineup, and will be expected to be an integral component of the unit going forward.
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