Who is Shubham Ranjane? Ex-Mumbai player in USA XI for T20 World Cup clash vs India

Shubham Ranjane with Suryakumar Yadav [Source: @ICC/x.com, @ssranjane7/instagram.com]

Shubham Ranjane will walk out at the Wankhede Stadium in USA colours for their T20 World Cup 2026 opener against India on Saturday and his story is as filmy as it gets. From carrying two suitcases to Seattle with zero guarantees to now playing a World Cup against the country he once dreamed of representing, Ranjane’s journey has been quite eventful.

For many fans watching this clash, one question will pop up instantly: who is Shubham Ranjane? And what is special about his story? Let’s just say this isn’t your usual cricket journey. This one has guts, risk and a whole lot of belief.

Who is Shubham Ranjane?

Shubham Ranjane is a middle-order batting allrounder. From Mumbai domestic cricket to Major League Cricket in the USA, he has taken the long road to the World Cup. He has 1345 international runs and is instrumental part of the USA cricket team.

From Pune to Mumbai chasing the big dream

Ranjane’s cricket journey started in Maharashtra. Watching his father Subash play Ranji Trophy cricket lit the spark early. Cricket was always around him. The dream was simple: climb the ladder and play at the highest level.

At just 11, he began playing age-group cricket for Maharashtra. But like many ambitious cricketers, he soon realised Mumbai was where the real grind was. So he packed his bags and shifted to Mumbai in the mid-2010s to test himself in tougher waters.

He worked with former India pacer Abey Kuruvilla in club cricket and built a reputation as a solid allrounder. The big break came in the 2016-17 season when he finally made his Mumbai debut. It wasn’t a fairy-tale start though. Jasprit Bumrah ran through Mumbai that day and Ranjane was one of his victims. Still, wearing the Mumbai cap felt special.

Opportunities were few but the hunger stayed

Mumbai cricket is no cakewalk. The dressing room was stacked. Suryakumar Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Aditya Tare, the batting order was packed to the brim. For a middle-order allrounder like Ranjane, chances to shine were limited.

He wasn’t short of talent. But sometimes, timing matters as much as ability. Ranjane realised he needed a fresh start to showcase his skills properly. After Covid eased, he moved to Goa hoping for more game time but something didn’t click.

He quickly realised the growth path he wanted wasn’t going to come easy. That’s when he decided to roll the dice.

The bold move to the USA

In August 2022, Ranjane and his wife Mousam landed in Seattle with just two suitcases. Major League Cricket was starting in the USA and IPL franchise owners were backing it. Ranjane saw an opening and grabbed it.

Even his parents didn’t know he was moving full-time at first. He told them it was just a short cricket trip. A month later, he revealed he had secured the NOC and visa to pursue cricket in the USA. His wife backed him fully. Close friend Suryakumar Yadav also encouraged him to trust his instincts.

Making a mark in Major League Cricket

Once in the USA, Ranjane got down to business. He plays for Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket and quickly became a key figure. In one season, he smashed 268 runs in eight innings at a strike rate above 160 and finished as the team’s second-highest run-scorer.

He also impressed with the ball and in the field. Fitness became a major focus. Training alongside professionals like Faf du Plessis gave him clarity about his role and mindset. Faf’s professionalism rubbed off on him. Former South Africa allrounder Albie Morkel helped him sharpen his power hitting.

Emotional return to Wankhede

Ranjane has been named in USA’s playing XI against India at Wankhede. The same stadium where he once dreamed of playing for India. The same ground where he played domestic cricket for Mumbai.

When he heard the venue announcement, he admitted he got nervous and emotional. For him, it was a full-circle moment. His parents have flown in from Pune to watch him. His old Mumbai teammate Suryakumar Yadav even messaged him saying how proud he was. It will be interesting to see how Ranjane performs on his return to his former home stadium.