<p>It is confirmed that experienced India batsman <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/will-kkr-skipper-ajinkya-rahane-skip-t20-mumbai-league-post-conclusion-of-ipl-2025-23552714" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>Ajinkya Rahane</strong></a>, who led Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL-18, will not be available and so won&rsquo;t lead the Bandra Blasters team in the third edition of T20 Mumbai League [TML] that begins today.<p>


<p>Though the reason for Rahane&rsquo;s absence is not known, the Bandra team&rsquo;s head coach Umesh Patwal confirmed that wicketkeeper-batsman Akash Anand will now lead the side.</p>
<p><img title="Akash Anand and Ajinkya Rahane" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2025/jun/rahane-y_e.jpg" alt="Akash Anand and Ajinkya Rahane" width="1280" height="720" /><strong><em>Akash Anand and Ajinkya Rahane</em></strong></p>
<p>&ldquo;We are still trying to have Ajinkya Rahane to play and lead our team, but as there is no confirmation from him, Akash Anand will be leading our team,&rdquo; head coach Patwal told mid-day on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p>
<p>On May 27 mid-day had reported that Rahane may skip the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/t20-mumbai-league-2025-must-innovate-to-sustain-23553439" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>TML</strong></a>.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>&lsquo;Will miss his experience&rsquo;</h2>
<p>Meanwhile, new skipper Anand admitted that his team will miss Rahane&rsquo;s experience as they begin their campaign against North Mumbai Panthers at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/photo/wankhede-stadiums-50th-anniversary-the-long-celebratory-week-concludes-in-style-103815/1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>Wankhede Stadium</strong></a> on Wednesday. &ldquo;Ajju dada&rsquo;s guidance would have helped not just me, but everyone in the team. But whatever his reason for being unavailable, it&rsquo;s fine, because for the last week or so we have been mentally prepared that this might happen. It [Rahane&rsquo;s absence] is a major loss, no doubt, but we are ready to go,&rdquo; Anand told mid-day on Wednesday.</p>
<h2>New leadership role</h2>
<p>Anand, who has previously led the Cricket Club of <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/team-indias-england-tour-for-test-series-young-indian-team-capable-to-achieve-something-special-ab-de-villiers-23556221" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"><strong>India</strong></a> (CCI) in club cricket and Bank of Baroda in office cricket, is eager to live up to the expectations of his franchise. &ldquo;To bat and to keep wickets has always been my duty, so that&rsquo;s not new to me. The leadership role is new because though I have been leading CCI and Bank of Baroda for the last couple of years, this stage is bigger as it&rsquo;s franchise cricket. I hope to do well,&rdquo; added Anand, who was informed of his captaincy just a few hours before their practice session on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p><p>
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Though the reason for Rahane’s absence is not known, the Bandra team’s head coach Umesh Patwal confirmed that wicketkeeper-batsman Akash Anand will now lead

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Though the reason for Rahane’s absence is not known, the Bandra team’s head coach Umesh Patwal confirmed that wicketkeeper-batsman Akash Anand will now lead the side

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