Shardul Thakur misses a third Ranji Trophy round as unbeaten Mumbai host Haryana

Mumbai will be without Shardul Thakur for a third successive Ranji Trophy round when they host Haryana at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in Bandra Kurla Complex on Monday

The 34-year-old all-rounder has rejoined training with the squad but has not regained full match fitness after a finger injury picked up in a session before the season's opening round, and Mumbai have chosen not to rush him back.

His absence leaves the group leaders short of three familiar names. Vice-captain Ayush Mhatre is recovering from a hamstring injury, and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is in New Zealand, where he has been on India A duty ahead of the senior Test series.

Mumbai are otherwise expected to field the same side that beat Himachal Pradesh in Bilaspur a week ago. They lead Elite Group D on 14 points, and Haryana, who have also won both their matches, are the only other unbeaten side in the group.

A finger that has not healed in time

Thakur was hurt in training before the first round and was expected to miss at least the opening two matches. Mumbai had hoped he would be available for Haryana, but he has not come through the step up in workload.

His last competitive appearance was in late August, in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final for West Zone against North Zone. He took one wicket in 14 overs and made 10 with the bat, and West Zone lost by 54 runs.

While he works his way back, Thakur is due in the commentary box for some of India's ongoing T20Is against New Zealand.

A squad named without him

Thakur's absence was known before the season began. With him ruled out of the opening phase, Mumbai named Siddhesh Lad captain and Mhatre his deputy in a 16-man squad.

Suryakumar Yadav, who had made himself available for the season, was not picked. Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande all were.

Akash Anand and Hardik Tamore are the two wicketkeepers in the squad, which also carries Divyansh Saxena, Suved Parkar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mohit Avasthi, Sylvester Dsouza and Onkar Tarmale.

Two innings wins have set the standard

Mumbai opened with an innings-and-155-run win over Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium, then won by a wider margin in Bilaspur.

They declared on 528 for 8 there, built on 154 from Sarfaraz Khan and 117 from Akash Anand, and bowled Himachal Pradesh out for 140, Tushar Deshpande taking 4-46.

Asked to follow on, Himachal Pradesh made 291 and lost by an innings and 97 runs, with Mohit Avasthi returning 5-44. The win was worth the maximum seven points.

Haryana arrive with the same record

Haryana beat Himachal Pradesh by seven wickets at Rohtak in the first round, then beat Chandigarh on a bowler-friendly surface at Lahli.

Chandigarh were bowled out for 103 and, following on, for 118. Haryana's 245 in between was enough for a win by an innings and 24 runs and seven points of their own.

Nishant Sindhu was the difference, making 92 and then taking 6-27 in the second innings to be named player of the match.

What Monday is worth

Mumbai's 14 points lead the group and Haryana sit immediately behind them, so leadership of Elite Group D turns on this fixture and on the seven points an outright win carries.

Both of Haryana's wins have come at Rohtak, and this is their first assignment away from home this season.

Mumbai have batted once in each of their two matches and have not had to chase or save a game, so Monday is the first test of a side missing Thakur, Mhatre and Jaiswal at the same time.

Play runs from Monday to Thursday at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC in Mumbai.

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