According to a report from Cricbuzz, although the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is yet to officially announce its full squad for the prestigious annual fixture, Iyer and Thakur are likely to be part of the team. The match is scheduled to take place in Lucknow from October 1 to 5. Rahane, who captained Mumbai to their record-extending 42nd Ranji Trophy title earlier this year, will be eager to lead his side to another victory and bolster his own chances of making it into India's Test squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. Rahane last made headlines when he led India to a famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in 2022, retaining the trophy with a historic series win on Australian soil. The right-handed batter - who made his Test comeback in the WTC 2021-23 Final and was the highest run-scorer for the side in that lost game against Australia - last played a Test match in 2023 in the Caribbean. Rahane had a below-par performance against West Indies in the two Tests, scoring 3 & 8 in the two innings that he played. This Irani Cup fixture offers him the perfect platform to present his case to the national selectors ahead of India's next set of Test assignments. Shardul Thakur's Return Strengthens Mumbai The inclusion of all-rounder Shardul Thakur is a major boost for Mumbai. The versatile cricketer, who has been sidelined since June after undergoing ankle surgery, recently made a successful return to competitive cricket by participating in the KSCA tournament. According to MCA sources, Thakur has made himself available for the Irani Cup and will strengthen both the bowling and batting departments of the team. The Palghar Express's ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him an asset to Mumbai's lineup. Crucial Opportunity for Shreyas Iyer Shreyas Iyer, another key figure for Mumbai, is eyeing a much-needed opportunity to make his case for an international comeback. The talented right-handed batter missed out on India's ongoing Test series against Bangladesh and hasn't played a Test match since being dropped from the second game of the England series earlier this year. Iyer had been sidelined due to a back spasm but was reportedly fit by the time the final matches of the series rolled around, yet found himself left out. The upcoming Irani Cup offers Iyer a platform to showcase his red-ball credentials. Iyer recently captained India D in the Duleep Trophy but faced criticism for his inconsistent performances, managing just 154 runs in six innings. Despite scoring 54 and 50 in two separate innings, he also had three ducks, which raised questions about his form. With India set for a busy Test season in the coming months, Iyer will be keen to put the Duleep Trophy behind him and make a strong statement in the Irani Cup. His performances in this fixture will be crucial if he hopes to regain a place in the Indian Test squad for future series.