Ajinkya Rahane has been the unsung hero of Mumbai cricket’s comeback for many years. He led with composure, discipline, and an unwavering focus on winning rather than shouting or playing to the crowd like a captain would. Mumbai not only won trophies under his direction, but they also regained their supremacy in Indian domestic cricket.
Rahane declared this week that he was leaving his position as captain. “Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honor,” he says. I think now is the ideal time to develop a new leader because we have a new domestic season coming up.
His history speaks for itself. Rahane ended Mumbai’s agonizing seven-year drought by leading the team to the Ranji Trophy title in 2023–24 after taking over as captain. He also played a key part in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 championship in 2022–2023 and led the team to an Irani Cup victory in 2024–2025. In addition to winning trophies, he stabilized a team full of young players by developing players like Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal to perform well under duress.
Rahane’s true nature is shown in that statement. Real leaders understand when to let others take charge, but many players hold on to control. Rahane didn’t view this as escaping responsibility. His aim was to prepare Mumbai cricket for the future.
This is not Rahane’s last goodbye, though. He made it clear that he is still dedicated to being a player: “I am still fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with Mumbai to help us win more trophies.
ALSO READ : India Cricket Schedule 2025: Full Fixtures for Asia Cup, Australia & South Africa Series
Mumbai starts a new chapter this October as the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season begins. Ajinkya Rahane may not wear the armband anymore, but he will still be there as a leader, a match-winner, and a guiding presence. He was the kind of leader who showed that sometimes the bravest thing to do is to let go.
People start to wonder who will be the next captain of Mumbai. Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Sarfaraz Khan are some of the names that are already being talked about. No matter who takes over, they will have a legacy that is stronger because of Rahane’s leadership.
