Siraj Takes the Helm: Hyderabad's Bold Move for the Ranji Opener

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-09-20

When you've bowled the new ball for India on the biggest stages, captaining your state side in the Ranji Trophy opener might sound like a step down. Mohammed Siraj doesn't see it that way. On September 19, 2026, the Hyderabad Cricket Association named him captain for the first two matches of the 2026-27 season, with left-arm medium pacer C V Milind as his deputy. It's a move that tells you exactly how serious Hyderabad is about starting strong. Siraj isn't just a name on a team sheet. At 32, he brings genuine international weight to a dressing room full of younger players. Think of him as the older brother who's already been through the fire and knows how to keep his cool when things get heated. That kind of presence matters in four-day cricket, where patience and game awareness win matches more often than raw talent alone. ### The Opening Fixtures and Group B Challenge Hyderabad opens against Tripura from October 11 to 14, 2026. Then comes a quick turnaround against Andhra from October 18 to 21. Both matches fall in Group B, where Karnataka, Punjab, and Saurashtra are also lurking. That's not an easy group, and every early point counts. Here's the thing about the Ranji Trophy: the first two games often set the tone for the entire campaign. Win them, and belief spreads through the squad like wildfire. Lose them, and you're suddenly chasing the season instead of shaping it. ### Inside the 15-Man Senior Squad The selection committee picked a 15-member main squad, and it's a blend of experience and fresh legs. Siraj leads, Milind supports, and the batting order leans on Tanmay Agarwal's know-how. - Tanmay Agarwal, M. Abhirath Reddy, Rahul Singh, K. Hima Teja, Varun Goud, Ruthik Yadav Mende, and Sai Vikas Reddy handle the batting - Rahul Radesh and Sai Pragnay Reddy share wicketkeeping duties - Tanay Thyagarajan, Aniketh Reddy, Clt. Rakshann Readdi, and Ajay Dev Goud form the bowling and all-round core Seven standby players were also named: Bhavesh Seth (backup keeper), H K Simha, T Ravi Teja, Shaunak Kulkarni, Mudassar Hussain, Kartikeya Kak, and A Pruthvi Reddy. Depth like that gives a captain options when injuries or form dips hit mid-season. ### What Siraj Brings Beyond the Arm Band Siraj recently bowled 41 overs across two innings in the Duleep Trophy final for South Zone against East Zone, taking one wicket. That workload shows he's match-fit and ready for the longer format. More importantly, it shows he's willing to grind. As one cricket observer put it recently: "A fast bowler captaining in red-ball cricket changes how you use your bowlers. You feel the fatigue yourself, so you rotate smarter." That instinct could be Hyderabad's quiet advantage. Siraj knows when a bowler has one more over in him and when to pull him back. That's not something you learn from a textbook. ### The Under-23 Squad Also Gets Its Leaders Hyderabad didn't stop at the senior team. The association announced its Under-23 squad for the Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy too. P. Aman Rao captains that side, with Aaron George as vice-captain. They face Railways on October 12, 2026, then Uttarakhand on October 19. The 15-member Under-23 group includes A. Avanish Rao, Raghav Pattapu, Wafi Kachchhi, A. Vignesh Reddy, Sunkari Dheeraj (second keeper), R. Sai Sharan, Pranav Varma, Murugan Abhishek, Kush Agarwal, Nishanth Saranu, Dinesh Rathod, M.A. Malik, and K. Rahul Karthikeya. Eight standbys were named as well, with Yash Satwalker listed as a wicketkeeping option. ### Why This Matters for the Season Ahead Hyderabad isn't just filling a captaincy vacancy. They're building a structure where international experience filters down to younger players. Siraj leads the seniors, Aman Rao leads the Under-23s, and both squads start their campaigns within days of each other. If Siraj can translate his bowling intelligence into captaincy, Hyderabad could surprise a few teams in Group B. The first two matches will tell us plenty. Tripura and Andhra won't hand over anything easily, but with a leader who's used to pressure, Hyderabad has a fighting chance to start the season on the front foot.