Mohammed Siraj named Hyderabad captain for Ranji Trophy 2026-27

Mohammed Siraj has been named captain of the Hyderabad cricket team for the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season. The HCA Senior Selection Committee confirmed the appointment on September 11, with Chama Milind named as vice-captain for the campaign.

Siraj replaces Tilak Varma, who had previously led the side. The Hyderabad Cricket Association also confirmed that Wasim Jaffer has been appointed as the team's mentor for the 2026-27 season.

“In the absence or unavailability of Mohammed Siraj, C. V. Milind will assume the role of captain and lead the Hyderabad team for the concerned match/matches. The HCA wishes Mohammed Siraj and C. V. Milind the very best for the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season and looks forward to their leadership and contribution to the team,” the HCA said in a statement as quoted by Deccan Chronicle.

Hyderabad are placed in Elite Group B for the 2026-27 season alongside Saurashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Tripura. The side will open their campaign on October 11 against Tripura.

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What is Siraj's recent form and fitness heading into the season?

Siraj's form and fitness have been closely watched after a difficult stretch on India's tour of Sri Lanka. During that series, he bowled 44 overs and picked up 4 wickets, but his pace dropped to the late 120kph range from his usual mid-140kph levels. Siraj spoke candidly about the challenges he faced during that period.

"Coming off a two-month break straight into a match, my rhythm wasn't quite there. I'm purely a rhythm bowler. If I'm not in sync, I simply can't explode through the crease. That was the struggle in Sri Lanka – my run-up felt disjointed. Some strides were too short, others were too long, and that broke my flow and cost me pace," said Siraj as quoted by News18.

However, Siraj showed encouraging signs towards the end of the Duleep Trophy 2026 final in Chennai, where he played for South Zone under Tilak Varma's captaincy.

"Out here, everything clicked into place, and the pace followed naturally. Yes, it was very tough. We came straight from Sri Lanka, where we spent three and a half days fielding in the second Test (at Colombo), and within a week, we were out here playing in Chennai's sweltering heat. But for me, it comes down to passion. When you're representing your country, you can't make excuses. You have to give every ounce of effort for your team and nation," said Siraj.

How did Hyderabad perform last season and what does the captaincy change mean?

Hyderabad finished fourth in Elite Group D in the previous Ranji Trophy season, recording one win, two losses and four draws. The result underlined the need for a stronger campaign in 2026-27.

Siraj is not entirely new to the captaincy role for Hyderabad. During the 2025-26 season, he had stepped in to lead the side in matches against Mumbai and Chhattisgarh, replacing Rahul Singh on those occasions. His appointment as full-time captain for 2026-27 formalises that leadership responsibility for the entire season.

With Wasim Jaffer now in place as mentor alongside the new captain and vice-captain, Hyderabad will look to improve on last season's fourth-place finish when they face Tripura in their opening Elite Group B fixture on October 11.