Siraj Takes Hyderabad Helm: What It Means for the Ranji Season

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-20

### The Captaincy Call That Changes Everything Mohammed Siraj is stepping up. On September 19, 2026, the Hyderabad Cricket Association named the India pace spearhead as captain for the first two Ranji Trophy matches of the 2026-27 season. Left-arm medium pacer C V Milind will serve as his deputy. It's a move that signals intent from a team looking to make noise in Group B. Siraj, 32, brings a wealth of international experience to the role. He's bowled on the biggest stages, and now he'll lead a relatively young Hyderabad side through the early grind of India's premier domestic competition. ### The Opening Fixtures Hyderabad kicks off against Tripura from October 11 to 14, 2026. Then they face Andhra from October 18 to 21. Both matches will test the team's depth right out of the gate. Group B also includes Karnataka, Punjab, and Saurashtra, so there's no room for a slow start. ### Squad Breakdown: Who's in the 15? The selection committee went with a 15-member main squad for these opening games. Siraj leads, Milind supports, and the batting unit features some familiar names: - Tanmay Agarwal (experienced hand at the top) - M. Abhirath Reddy - Rahul Singh - K. Hima Teja - Varun Goud - Ruthik Yadav Mende - Sai Vikas Reddy The wicketkeeping duties fall to Rahul Radesh and Sai Pragnay Reddy. The bowling attack and all-round options include Tanay Thyagarajan, Aniketh Reddy, Clt. Rakshann Readdi, and Ajay Dev Goud. ### Standby Players Ready to Step In Seven standby players were also named: Bhavesh Seth (backup wicketkeeper), H K Simha, T Ravi Teja, Shaunak Kulkarni, Mudassar Hussain, Kartikeya Kak, and A Pruthvi Reddy. Depth matters in a long season, and these guys could get the call at any moment. ### Siraj's Recent Form Siraj recently turned out for South Zone against East Zone in the Duleep Trophy final. He bowled 41 overs across two innings and picked up one wicket. Not spectacular numbers, but the workload shows he's ready for the longer format. His presence alone lifts the entire bowling group. ### Under-23 Squad Also Announced The HCA didn't stop with the senior team. They also named the Under-23 squad for the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy. P. Aman Rao will captain, with Aaron George as vice-captain. They face Railways on October 12, 2026, and then Uttarakhand on October 19. The 15-member Under-23 squad includes: - P. Aman Rao - Aaron George - A. Avanish Rao - Raghav Pattapu - Wafi Kachchhi - A. Vignesh Reddy - Sunkari Dheeraj (wicketkeeper) - R. Sai Sharan - Pranav Varma - Murugan Abhishek - Kush Agarwal - Nishanth Saranu - Dinesh Rathod - M.A. Malik - K. Rahul Karthikeya Eight standby players were also named: Tarun Rajan, Harshit Sai, Pranav Suryadevara, Yash Satwalker (wicketkeeper), G. Rithish Reddy, Mayank Gupta, Urwesh Kakkad, and Ghazi Abbas. ### What This Means for Hyderabad's Season Siraj's leadership could be the spark Hyderabad needs. He's a proven performer who knows how to handle pressure. The young guns in the squad will benefit from his guidance. And with a solid mix of experience and youth, Hyderabad might just surprise a few teams in Group B. The Ranji Trophy is a marathon, not a sprint. But these first two matches will set the tone. If Siraj can lead from the front, Hyderabad could be a team to watch. > "Siraj's experience is invaluable. He's someone the younger players can look up to," a team insider said. "His presence alone makes us a tougher side." For more cricket news and updates, keep an eye on the domestic circuit. The action starts October 11.