Jaiswal ruled out of Ranji Trophy semi-final against Vidarbha due to ankle niggle

Yashasvi Jaiswal has been ruled out of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy semi-final against Vidarbha, set to begin on Monday in Nagpur, after suffering a right ankle injury during training this weekend. Originally part of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad, Jaiswal was a late exclusion, with the team opting for Varun Chakravarthy instead. Although named as a non-travelling reserve, Jaiswal is now expected to return home.

Mumbai will not be naming a replacement for Jaiswal for the semi-final, as they feel confident with their available resources, including experienced players like Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Shardul Thakur. Dube, also a non-travelling reserve for India's Champions Trophy squad, could travel to Dubai if required.

Jaiswal, a regular in India's Test squad, made his ODI debut against England earlier this month in Nagpur, stepping in for Virat Kohli due to a knee issue. He scored 15 runs in the match. In the 2024-25 Ranji season, Jaiswal has only featured in one game, against Jammu and Kashmir, where he managed scores of 4 and 26.

Mumbai, the defending champions, have had a tough season in the Ranji Trophy. They narrowly made it to the quarter-finals, where they were pushed to the brink by Haryana, but their lower order once again proved vital. Now, as they face Vidarbha in the semi-final, Mumbai will look to recover from a challenging season and reach the final.

Vidarbha, on the other hand, are in excellent form, having won seven of their eight games this season, including a dominant 198-run victory over Tamil Nadu in the quarter-final. The semi-final will be a rematch of last year's title clash, with both teams eager to secure a spot in the final.

Mumbai’s squad for the semi-final includes captain Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Shardul Thakur, and several others, including promising talents like Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who will be crucial for their chances in this high-stakes match.