Former Indian cricketer Sandeep Patil is making a significant comeback to Mumbai cricket, stepping into a vital leadership role as the mentor for the Mumbai men’s teams across all age groups for the 2026-27 domestic season. A proud member of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, Patil has an impressive record, having played 29 Tests and 45 ODIs from 1980 to 1986. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has placed their trust in him to nurture the next wave of talent through technical guidance, leadership development, tactical insights, and talent scouting.
The MCA said, “A distinguished international cricketer and one of Mumbai cricket’s most celebrated figures, Patil will mentor MCA’s men teams, providing strategic guidance, technical expertise, leadership development and motivational support to players and coaches across all levels.”
He also mentioned his intention to collaborate closely with coaches, selectors, and support staff to lay out future plans for the cricketing framework in the state.
In a parallel move, the MCA is bolstering its women’s cricket initiatives by appointing former Indian cricketer Arundhati Ghosh as the Women’s Tournament Coordinator. Ghosh, who has represented India in eight Tests and 11 ODIs, will be in charge of managing women’s tournaments, leagues, selection trials, and training camps. She will also work alongside players, coaches, selectors, and administrators to enhance the development of women’s cricket in Mumbai.
Schedule for Men’s and Women’s Domestic Tournaments
The 2026-27 domestic season is shaping up to be one of the most action-packed years in Indian cricket, with a whopping 1,788 matches lined up across various formats. The men’s season kicks off with the Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru, running from August 23 to September 10, 2026, where some of the best players from Mumbai are set to represent the West Zone. Following that, the Irani Cup will take place from October 1 to 5 in the beautiful Jammu & Kashmir. The Ranji Trophy is set to start on October 11, with Mumbai placed in Elite Group D alongside Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Railways. The first phase will wrap up by November 5. After that, the focus will shift to white-ball cricket, beginning with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy from November 14 to December 6, where Mumbai will host some of the league-stage matches. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is on the calendar from December 14, 2026, to January 8, 2027. The Ranji Trophy will resume on January 17, with league matches concluding on February 4, and the knockout phase culminating in the final on March 3, 2027.
On the women’s side, the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy is scheduled to run from October 26 to November 20, 2026. Following that, the Senior Women’s T20 Inter-Zonal Trophy will kick off in December, giving top performers from Mumbai a chance to shine for the West Zone. The Senior Women’s One Day Trophy will follow in early 2027, rounding out the main domestic calendar before the season wraps up with the multi-day inter-zonal competitions in late March.
