February 16, 2025: Mumbai’s preparations for the upcoming Ranji Trophy semi-final against Vidarbha have suffered a setback, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal being ruled out due to a right ankle injury. Jaiswal sustained the injury during a training session over the weekend, just days before the much-anticipated match, which is scheduled to begin on Monday in Nagpur.
Jaiswal was originally part of India’s squad for the Champions Trophy 2025, but after his injury, he was replaced by spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. While he was retained as a non-travelling reserve, the young opener is now expected to return home due to his injury, further diminishing Mumbai’s lineup for the crucial semi-final clash.
Despite Jaiswal’s absence, Mumbai has opted not to name a replacement for the upcoming match, relying on the experience of their existing squad. The team boasts several seasoned players, including Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur, any of whom could fill the gap. Notably, Shivam Dube, who is also a non-travelling reserve for India’s Champions Trophy squad, could potentially be called up if needed in Dubai.
Jaiswal, a regular member of India’s Test squad, had made his ODI debut earlier this season against England in Nagpur, stepping in for Virat Kohli, who was sidelined with a knee injury. In that match, he managed to score just 15 runs. Jaiswal had also featured in one Ranji Trophy match this season, scoring 4 and 26 in Mumbai’s loss to Jammu and Kashmir during the group stages.
Mumbai’s journey to the semi-finals has been tough. They barely made it past the group stages and faced significant challenges in their quarter-final match against Haryana. However, Mumbai’s lower-order batting staged a crucial rescue act, allowing them to progress to the semi-finals.
The semi-final will be a rematch of last year’s final against Vidarbha, who have been in outstanding form this season. Having secured seven outright wins in eight matches, Vidarbha head into the semi-final with impressive momentum, following their dominant 198-run victory over Tamil Nadu in the quarter-finals.
With Jaiswal out, Mumbai will look to their experienced core to overcome the challenge and secure a spot in the final.