A storm has erupted in Indian domestic cricket as reports surfaced of a dramatic falling-out between Mumbai's outgoing star Yashasvi Jaiswal and their red-ball captain Ajinkya Rahane, culminating in the former's unexpected departure to Goa for the 2025-26 season.
The rift, allegedly punctuated by Jaiswal kicking Rahane’s kitbag in a fit of frustration, was touted as the final straw. The incident reportedly unfolded during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, following Mumbai’s stunning defeat to Jammu and Kashmir in a group-stage match. Jaiswal struggled with scores of 4 and 26 runs as Mumbai crumbled to a five-wicket loss.
Sources claim that post-match, Rahane and Mumbai head coach Omkar Salvi confronted Jaiswal, questioning his commitment and approach. The criticism, perceived as unjust by the young batter, reportedly pushed him over the edge, leading to the now-infamous kitbag incident.
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The breaking point came after the Jammu and Kashmir loss, compounded by comments from Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil. Patil’s remarks about the defeat being one of Mumbai’s “worst ever” and his call for international players to show greater dedication reportedly left Jaiswal feeling singled out.
"I’m still upset at the J&K defeat, which I feel was our worst ever. To accommodate the India players in that match, we had to deprive a few talented youngsters. Mumbai needs players who can perform and make the side win games, something which was missing in that match. The India players need to realise it’s not just about being ‘available’ for that game. The culture of Mumbai cricket has always been about giving your 100% when you are playing for Mumbai," Patil said as quoted.
Jaiswal’s relationship with Rahane, once seen as a mentor-protege bond, appears to have deteriorated over time. Insiders point to a 2022 Duleep Trophy final as the starting point, where Rahane, then leading West Zone, sent Jaiswal off the field for excessive sledging against South Zone’s Ravi Teja. Despite Jaiswal’s match-defining double-century, the disciplinary action left a lingering strain.
Further tensions brewed during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy two seasons ago with Jaiswal feeling his shot selection was unfairly scrutinized by the Mumbai management.
Yashasvi Jaiswal in Consideration to Captain Goa
Jaiswal formally requested a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to join Goa, a move swiftly approved by the governing body. Publicly, Jaiswal has framed the switch as a career-enhancing opportunity, citing Goa’s offer of a leadership role.
"It was a very tough decision for me. Whatever I am today is because of Mumbai. The city has made me who I am, and all my life, I will be indebted to the MCA," Jaiswal said as quoted to The Indian Express.
"Goa has thrown me a new opportunity and it has offered me a leadership role. My first goal will be to do well for India and whenever I'm not on national duty, I will be playing for Goa and try to make them go deep into the tournament. This was an (important) opportunity which came my way and I just took it," he added.
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Suryakumar Yadav Dismisses Report of Mumbai Coup
A Times of India report said that Suryakumar Yadav, a Mumbai stalwart and Jaiswal's senior teammate, might be orchestrating a “coup” within the squad, potentially encouraging other players to follow Jaiswal to Goa. These claims, which surfaced shortly after Jaiswal’s move was confirmed, suggested unrest in the Mumbai dressing room and hinted at Suryakumar leading a potential exodus.
However, the 34-year-old himself denied this report with a tweet on X.
"Script writer hai ya journalist? Agar hasna hai toh I will stop watching comedy movies and start reading these articles. Ekdum bakwas (Are you a scriptwriter or a journalist? If I want to laugh, I’ll stop watching comedy movies and read these articles. Utter nonsense)."
Suryakumar was recently spotted at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He went there along with his wife Devisha Shetty and Mumbai Indians (MI) teammates Tilak Varma, Deepak Chahar and Karn Sharma to seek blessings ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) match versus Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
