Shubham Ranjane will step onto the Wankhede Stadium on February 7 wearing the colors of the United States of America. The 31-year-old, who once represented Mumbai in domestic cricket, is set to make his T20I debut at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
This match against India at his former home ground brings his journey full circle. The USA will open its Group A campaign against the defending champions in Mumbai.
Ranjane comes from a rich cricketing family. His grandfather, Vasant Ranjan,e played seven Tests for India between 1958 and 1964. His father, Subhas, represented Maharashtra and also played for India Under-19s and India A.
The family always hoped Shubham would carry forward the legacy in Indian colors. However, his path took a different turn when he moved to the USA in mid-2022. He had earlier held an IPL contract with Rajasthan Royals in 2019, but the chance to play international cricket through the American route convinced him to relocate.
The move was far from easy. Ranjane left Mumbai with just two suitcases and no guarantee of success. Training facilities in the USA were limited compared to those in India. He had to order cricket equipment from India and build his own practice routines from scratch. Despite these struggles, his commitment paid off.
A call from USA captain Monank Patel confirmed his ODI debut against Nepal in Dubai in October 2025. He contributed with both bat and ball in that game and earned a place in the 15-member T20 World Cup squad.
Ranjane’s franchise cricket stints with the Texas Super Kings, the Joburg Super Kings, and teams in the SA20 and BPL further sharpened his game. Since 2025, he has scored 426 runs in 18 innings at a strike rate of 142, proving himself as a reliable middle-order finisher. His right-arm medium pace also adds a useful bowling option.
Facing former Mumbai teammate and India captain Suryakumar Yadav at Wankhede will carry deep personal emotions, but Ranjane heads into this World Cup focused, confident, and ready to make an impact for USA cricket on the biggest stage.
