Jaffer returns to Mumbai squad

Wasim Jaffer has returned to Mumbai's squad for their crucial Ranji Trophy Group A tie against Tamil Nadu, to be played in Chennai from Wednesday. Jaffer had been out of action for over a month after fracturing a finger during Mumbai's season-opener against Jammu & Kashmir in December.

Jaffer's right index finger was expected to heal in three weeks but it took longer, thus leaving Mumbai without their batting mainstay for the last four games. Jaffer was included in the squad after proving his fitness with a fifty in a local game earlier this week.

Jaffer's inclusion will no doubt boost the morale of a young Mumbai side going into the finishing stages of the league phase. His injury was followed with that of Abhishek Nayar, resulting in the team being forced to field one of their most inexperienced middle orders. Jaffer's experience and expertise is expected to come in handy in a must-win away game, with the hosts set to continue their trend of producing turning tracks.

With 11 points from five games, Mumbai are fourth in the standings. They can ill-afford to lose a game if they are to regain the trophy. Taking the conditions into account, the selectors have recalled left-arm spinner Vishal Dabholkar into the squad. Tushar Deshpande, a medium-pacer who impressed in the domestic U-23 tournament, received his maiden call-up into the squad. The duo have come in for medium-pacers Javed Khan and Kshemal Waingankar.

Mumbai squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Wasim Jaffer, Aditya Tare, Akhil Herwadkar, Siddhesh Lad, Sarfaraz Khan, Iqbal Abdullah, Vishal Dabholkar, Shardul Thakur, Tusshar Deshpande, Akshay Girap, Shrideep Mangela, Shreyas Iyer, Sufiyan Shaikh, Badre Alam.