'Our main aim is to give maximum Mumbai players to the Indian team': MCA's president Ajinkya Naik

MCA president Ajinkya Naik at BKC on Wednesday. Pic/Shadab Khan

In pursuit of their 43rd Ranji Trophy title, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officially launched the 2026-27 season with a central theme, ‘Focus,' at the MCA-BKC academy on Wednesday.

"For us, the Ranji Trophy is like a World Cup. Our main aim is to win the maximum number of championships and give maximum Mumbai players to the Indian team. We have some legendary senior players on board. Coaches and selectors have been appointed, and today [Wednesday] marks the beginning of our journey towards achieving our goal," MCA president Ajinkya Naik told mid-day on Wednesday when asked about the significance of the Ranji title which Mumbai last won in 2023-24.

Last season, only Mumbai's teenagers - U-16 boys and U-15 girls - ended up champions, winning the Vijay Merchant Trophy and the Women's U-15 One Day Trophy.

MCA's Cricket Improvement Committee chairman and former India pacer Raju Kulkarni highlighted the importance of the Mumbai U-19 set-up. "U-19 teams are the supply line, but both [men and women] teams have not performed well [last season] and that's our biggest concern. So, I've told the respective coaches to ensure our U-19 teams do well this time," Kulkarni said.

Former national chief selectors and India's 1983 World Cup-winning team members Dilip Vengsarkar and Sandeep Patil also offered words of advice. Patil, who is Team Mentor of all Mumbai teams, said: "What is important in the game of cricket is not only to begin [well], but to finish [well] is also very important. Raju [Kulkarni] just said that in the last one, two years Mumbai cricket is lacking somewhere. So, we need to take guard again."

MCA advisor Vengsarkar ensured a fair selection policy. "I want to make it clear that those who have not been picked as the probables also stand a chance to play for Mumbai. We have started a TRDO [Talent Resource Development Officer Wing] and it will play a very important role. Injustice will not be done to anyone," said Vengsarkar.