Mohammed Siraj replaces Tilak Varma as Hyderabad captain for the Ranji Trophy

Hyderabad have named India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj as their captain for the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 season, replacing Tilak Varma

The Hyderabad Cricket Association's senior selection committee settled the leadership at a meeting on Friday and announced it on September 11, with allrounder Chama Milind named as Siraj's deputy for the season.

The association also confirmed that former India opener Wasim Jaffer will serve as the team's mentor for the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 campaign.

Siraj takes over from Tilak Varma, who led Hyderabad last season and has since become India's T20I vice-captain, a role that leaves him unavailable for much of the domestic first-class calendar.

What the association said

The selection committee's decision was unanimous, and the association set out in writing what happens when its new captain is away on international duty.

"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 said in its announcement.

"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," it added.

A captaincy shaped by availability

Tilak Varma captained Hyderabad through last season and led South Zone in the Duleep Trophy this month, but his standing in the India T20I side now works against a full domestic season.

Siraj's own diary is no lighter. He is part of India's Test attack, and the deputising clause written into the announcement suggests Hyderabad expect to hand Milind the side more than once.

The arrangement gives the team a settled chain of command rather than a captain named match by match, which is what the association appears to have been after.

Rhythm regained at Chepauk

Siraj's most recent first-class outing was the Duleep Trophy final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, where he played under Tilak Varma for South Zone and finished on the losing side.

East Zone made 708 and bowled South Zone out for 336 before declaring their second innings at 388 for 7, taking the title on first-innings lead and ending a wait that stretched back to 2012-13.

Siraj sent down 41 overs across the match for a single wicket, including a first-innings spell of 25 overs for 140, and said afterwards that the return to rhythm mattered more than the return.

"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," he said.

The break that cost him pace

Siraj traced a marked drop in speed during India's Test tour of Sri Lanka to the two months he had spent out of match cricket beforehand.

"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," he said.

"Every bowler's body is different, but mine doesn't handle long breaks well," he added. "A short break is fine, but in my ten-year career, I had never taken two full months off."

By the second innings at Chepauk the corrective had worked. "In the second innings, I told myself to forget the outcome and just run in with good, natural rhythm. The moment I did that, the old Siraj was back," he said.

Elite Group B and an October start

Hyderabad have been drawn in Elite Group B alongside Saurashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam and Tripura.

They open against Tripura on October 11, which should allow Siraj a run of matches before India's home Test series against New Zealand begins on November 18.

The side has ground to make up. Hyderabad finished fourth in Elite Group D last season, winning one match, losing two and drawing four.

Hyderabad begin their Ranji Trophy campaign against Tripura at home on October 11.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.