logo
Mumbai mainstay Siddhesh Lad named Maratha Royals captain in T20 League Debut

Mumbai mainstay Siddhesh Lad named Maratha Royals captain in T20 League Debut

India Gazette26-05-2025

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 26 (ANI): Mumbai circuit's proven performer Siddhesh Lad will lead the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals as captain for their debut campaign in T20 Mumbai League Season 3.
A proud product of Shivaji Park, Lad's deep familiarity with Mumbai cricket and proven ability across formats make him the natural choice to lead a team built on strong fundamentals and local identity.
A technically sound, level-headed batsman with over a decade of experience, Lad, 32, has played 74 First Class, 50 List A, and 60 T20 matches, amassing more than 4100 runs in the Ranji Trophy, where he stands eighth on Mumbai's all-time run-scorers list.
An occasional off-spinner, he also spent time playing in the UK before returning to hit a career-best 169* against Odisha in the 2024-25 Ranji season. Known as Mumbai's 'crisis man' for his ability to steady innings under pressure, Lad brings that same grit and game awareness to the Maratha Royals.
Beyond the captaincy, the squad sees two changes, with Rohan Raje and Saksham Parashar replacing icon player Tushar Deshpande, who will miss the season owing to national commitments with the India A squad touring England, and Arman Jaffer.
Speaking on his appointment, Siddhesh Lad said, as quoted from a press release from Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals, 'It's an honour to lead Maratha Royals, especially in our first season. I've always taken pride in representing Mumbai, and this opportunity to lead a franchise rooted in Shivaji Park, where I began my journey, means a lot. We've got a strong mix of talent, and the aim is clear: to play smart, play tough, and represent Mumbai with intent and pride.'
Hailing from a cricketing background, with his father Dinesh Lad a respected coach and mentor to many Mumbai cricketers, Siddhesh grew up steeped in the game, training at Shivaji Park from an early age. In just his second First Class appearance in 2013, Lad hit twin fifties against Delhi, before playing a crucial knock of 88 in the 2015-16 final, leading Mumbai to their 41st Ranji title.
Commenting on Lad's ability as a batter and a spearhead, Abhishek Nayar, Team Mentor, said: 'Siddhesh is a natural leader. He's someone who reads the game well, absorbs pressure, and leads by example. He's played in every format, adapted to every role, and always delivered. That's what we're building here, players who reflect the ethos of Mumbai cricket: skill, grit, and quiet confidence.'
With Lad at the helm, the Royals are in the final phase of preparations for their league campaign. The team will play three warm-up matches against sister franchise Raigad Royals (from the Maharashtra Premier League) between May 27 and May 29, before beginning their T20 Mumbai League journey on June 4, when they take on Aakash Tigers at the Wankhede Stadium. (ANI)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Captaincy brings lot of maturity, responsibility: Shreyas Iyer after leading Sobo Mumbai Falcons into T20 Mumbai League 2025 semi-finals
Captaincy brings lot of maturity, responsibility: Shreyas Iyer after leading Sobo Mumbai Falcons into T20 Mumbai League 2025 semi-finals

India Gazette

time2 hours ago

  • India Gazette

Captaincy brings lot of maturity, responsibility: Shreyas Iyer after leading Sobo Mumbai Falcons into T20 Mumbai League 2025 semi-finals

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India] June 9 (ANI): Star India cricketer Shreyas Iyer is enjoying a golden run as captain, leading the Sobo Mumbai Falcons into the semi-finals of the Sobo Mumbai Falcons into the semi-finals League 2025. His leadership has been instrumental in guiding the team to the last-4 stage, making them one of the strong contenders for the coveted title, according to a release from Mumbai T-20 league. The 30-year-old dashing batter has been exceptional on the field, balancing a squad mix of youth and experience. Under his captaincy, the Falcons secured their semi-final spot with an impressive record of four wins out of five league-stage matches. 'It (captaincy) brings in a lot of maturity and responsibility. You are always expected to perform and contribute in the best way possible for the team because whenever there is a hurdle or some kind of adversity you face as a team, they always come to the captain. I think I have got a lot of experience as I have been captaining since I was 22. I have enjoyed the moments and also embraced it. I love the fact to come out and lead,' Iyer told the T20 Mumbai League. Talking about handling high-pressure moments, he further added, 'I just try to get into my zone, and I try to do things which are there in front of me. I try to stay focused as much as possible, just to stay in the present, embrace the situation, and embrace the crowd because sometimes they get very electrifying and pass on the energy to you. So I keep telling myself that I want the crowd to cheer my name, and that brings that kind of motivation.' Iyer is among the top international stars featured in one of India's leading domestic franchise-based T20 tournaments, alongside players like Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube. The right-handed batsman also shared his views on the role of the T20 Mumbai League in nurturing young cricketers and preparing them for future challenges, highlighting its positive impact on their development. 'The Mumbai Cricket Association has put in great efforts to bring this league and identify the talents who have been consistently performing in the grassroots of Mumbai. This gives them a great platform to come and express themselves and also to thrive beyond club cricket,' he said. From a boy who began chasing his dreams at the Shivaji Park to becoming a match-winner for India, Iyer's journey has been truly inspiring. Iyer reflected on the experience of sharing a dressing room with familiar faces in the league. 'There are familiar faces in the dressing room, I have played with a few of them in club cricket and also in my school and college teams. I am glad to be back and play with my teammates here.' Semi-finals and finals will be played at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. The first semi-final, will feature an exciting contest between Eagle Thane Strikers and Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals whereas Sobo Mumbai Falcons will be up against Bandra Blasters in the second semi-final. This season has featured several outstanding individual performances. Suved Parkar from Bandra Blasters leads the run charts and currently holds the Orange Cap, with a standout knock of 76 off 37 balls during a record 118-run opening stand alongside Vikrant Auti. Shashank Attarde from Eagle Thane Strikers holds the Purple Cap for his consistent wicket-taking spells. Shreyas Iyer has anchored the SoBo Mumbai Falcons with experience and composure, while Sairaj Patil of Eagle Thane Strikers has turned heads with his explosive stroke play. Other consistent performers include Suryakumar Yadav, Siddhant Adhatrao from Triumph Knights Mumbai North East, as well as Siddhesh Lad and Chinmay Sutar from Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals -- all of whom contributed crucial half-centuries in the league stage. (ANI)

T20 Mumbai League: SoBo Mumbai Falcons ready to face NaMo Bandra Blasters in semis
T20 Mumbai League: SoBo Mumbai Falcons ready to face NaMo Bandra Blasters in semis

Hans India

time5 hours ago

  • Hans India

T20 Mumbai League: SoBo Mumbai Falcons ready to face NaMo Bandra Blasters in semis

Mumbai: Shreyas Iyer will be hoping to reach a second successive final when his side SoBo Mumbai Falcons takes on NaMo Bandra Blasters in the second semifinal of the T20 Mumbai League at the Wankhede Stadium here on Tuesday. A week back, Iyer had guided Punjab Kings to the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Ahmedabad, where they finished runners-up to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Having already secured their spot in T20 Mumbai League semifinals, SoBo Mumbai Falcons warmed up for the knockout stage with a facile win against Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs in the last league stage match at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night. The five-wicket win – set up by Ishan Mulchandani's second fifty of the season and his crucial partnership with captain Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who took over from Shreyas Iyer for Sunday night's game – was SoBo Mumbai Falcons' fourth win in five league games. Eagle Thane Strikers were the only other team to win four league games. It means that the Falcons will take on NaMo Bandra Blasters in the second semifinal on Tuesday under lights at the Wankhede Stadium. The Falcons' troupe – led by Shreyas and Raghuvanshi and ably guided by Team Principal Vikrant Yeligati – has all the bases covered heading into the business of the tournament. As he showcased during his 99-run partnership with Raghuvanshi at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, Mulchandani was in sublime touch. With 147 runs, he is the Falcons' highest run-getter of the tournament. Similarly, Siddharth Raut continued his exploits with the new ball as the seasoned pacer justified his billing as the leader of the pace pack. Add to that the fact that the allrounder duo of Vinayak Bhoir and Akash Parkar – who had a four-wicket haul against Aakash Tigers – are in top gear, underlines that the Falcons are a well-oiled machine that's raring to go at full throttle against the Blasters. Both Bhoir – the left-arm spinner and left-handed batter – and Parkar, the big-hitter and a right-arm pacer, have had at least one notable contribution both with the bat and the ball. While the seasoned duo has maintained the balance of the team, the Falcons have also unearthed the find of the tournament in Harsh Aghav. The young batter can dominate the bowlers with textbook shots. He will be hoping to withstand the big-match pressure at the Big W on Tuesday night. The winner of the first semifinal between Eagle Thane Strikers and MSC Maratha Royals – to be played on Tuesday afternoon – will be keeping a close watch on the Falcons' semifinal, just like scores of the Falcons' fan army that will be cheering the squad at the top of their voice.

Star cricketer ignored for IPL 2025, sends warning to selectors, smashes blazing fifty to beat MI star Suryakumar Yadav's team in...
Star cricketer ignored for IPL 2025, sends warning to selectors, smashes blazing fifty to beat MI star Suryakumar Yadav's team in...

India.com

time5 hours ago

  • India.com

Star cricketer ignored for IPL 2025, sends warning to selectors, smashes blazing fifty to beat MI star Suryakumar Yadav's team in...

Image credit: Source: Instagram In these collection of pictures, we find out about the star India cricketer who was ignored for IPL 2025 season but smashed a brilliant fifty against Suryakumar Yadav's side. Image credit: Source: Instagram Prithvi Shaw's North Mumbai Panthers face Suryakumar Yadav's Triumph Knights Mumbai North East in match No. 19 of T20 Mumbai League 2025 on Sunday. Image credit: Source: Instagram Prithvi Shaw has been captain of North Mumbai Panthers in the third season of T20 Mumbai League. Image credit: Source: Instagram Prithvi Shaw scored a 23-ball fifty for North Mumbai Panthers in his final match in T20 Mumbai League 2025. Shaw's side failed to qualify with just 2 wins in 5 matches. Image credit: X (Formerly Twitter) Prithvi Shaw scored match-winning 75 off 34 balls. Shaw's knock helped North Mumbai Panthers beat Triumph Knights Mumbai North East by 38 runs. Shaw had gone unsold in IPL 2025 mega auction last year. Image credit: X (Formerly Twitter) Suryakumar Yadav's 29 off 16 balls went in vain for Triumph Knights Mumbai North East. Surya's side also failed to qualify for semifinals of T20 Mumbai League 2025 after winning just 1 out of their 5 matches. Image credit: X (Formerly Twitter) Suryakumar Yadav was 2nd highest run-scorer in IPL 2025 with 717 runs for Mumbai Indians. MI lost to PBKS in the Qualifier 2 match.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store