Mumbai vice-captain Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the immediate Ranji Trophy schedule after sustaining a Grade 4 tear to his right hamstring during the opening round fixture against Chandigarh at Wankhede Stadium on October 13, 2026. The 19-year-old picked up the injury while running between the wickets and was eventually bowled for 48 in his only innings of the match.
Mhatre was unable to take the field during either of Chandigarh's innings as Mumbai completed an innings victory. Medical assessments place his recovery timeline at four to six weeks, meaning he is expected to remain unavailable for approximately one month.
The setback is particularly significant given the circumstances of his return. Mhatre had been sidelined for close to six months after damaging his left hamstring in an IPL 2026 appearance for Chennai Super Kings. He had only recently finished a three-month rehabilitation programme at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru before being named in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad, making this his first competitive outing in that period.
How long will Mhatre be out and where will he rehabilitate?
A Grade 4 hamstring tear represents a complete or near-complete rupture of the muscle, requiring a structured rehabilitation programme before a player can safely return to competitive cricket. Mhatre is expected to return to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, the same facility that managed his recovery from the earlier left hamstring problem.
Mumbai captain Siddhesh Lad addressed the situation after the match, confirming the extent of the concern. The back-to-back hamstring injuries on opposite legs will demand careful management from the BCCI medical staff before Mhatre is cleared to resume playing duties.
"The way he was limping in the match, it does not look like he would be available for the second or the third match. It seems that he will not be with the team for some time now," said Lad as quoted by Cricinfo.
What does Mumbai's broader injury picture look like?
Mhatre's absence compounds an already difficult start to the season for Mumbai. Shardul Thakur sustained a fracture to his right middle finger during a nets session ahead of the first round and is not expected to be available until the third round at the earliest, leaving the side short of two prominent players simultaneously.
The twin setbacks mean Mumbai will need to manage their resources carefully across the early rounds of the competition. Mhatre's role as vice-captain also adds an administrative dimension to his absence, though no replacement in that capacity has been confirmed at this stage.
