Maharashtra cricket team

History

Maharashtra was one of the 15 teams that competed in the first Ranji Trophy tournament in 1934–35, when, captained by D. B. Deodhar, it lost its inaugural match narrowly to Bombay. It has competed ever since, winning twice and finishing runners-up three times. Maharashtra won two consecutive Ranji trophies in 1939-40 and 1940-41 defeating United Province and Madras cricket team in the final respectively. It remained runner-up 3 times, in 1970-71 season it lost against Bombay cricket team, in 1992-93 against Punjab and in 2013-14 season versus Karnataka in the final and remained runner up.

Maharashtra's player Bhausaheb Nimbalkar scored record 443 in an inning in 1948 Ranji trophy, the record still stands and is still the highest Ranji trophy and first class score by an Indian.

As of February 2021 Maharashtra had played 395 times in the Ranji Trophy, winning 98, losing 75, and drawing 222 times.

In 1994-95 Vijay Hazare Trophy this team was winner of West zone.

Historically Maharashtra cricket team has been played its home matches at Poona Gymkhana Ground, Nehru stadium in Pune. Since Maharashtra cricket association built its own International cricket stadium at Gahunje outside Pune, it plays its home matches at 'Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium' (also known as MCA stadium).

Maharashtra team won its first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a premier T20 domestic cricket tournament in 2009–10. It defeated Hyderabad cricket team in the final by 19 runs. In 2018-19 season it lost against Karnataka cricket team in the final.

In 2022/23 Vijay Hazare Trophy, Maharashtra team had their best run in history but lost the finals to Saurashtra, Ruturaj Gaikwad captaining the side for the first time was the leading run getter for the side, he hit a tremendous knock of 220 runs of 159 deliveries not out vs Uttar Pradesh in quarterfinals, hitting a record-breaking 7 sixes in an over off Shiva Singh's bowling.

Grounds

[[Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium|MCA Stadium, Pune]]

Owner and operated by the Maharashtra Cricket Association, it is the main home ground of the team. It boasts an impressive outdoor cricket field encircled by elliptical-shaped bleachers supported on sturdy racking beams. These bleachers are organized into two tiers, an upper and lower level, collectively providing seating for up to 45,000 enthusiastic spectators. Established in 2012, This stadium has hosted many International cricket games including Cricket World Cup games and is also the secondary home-ground for the Chennai Super Kings in Indian Premier League.

[[Nehru Stadium, Pune]]

Formerly known as Club of Maharashtra Ground, It was established in 1969 and has a capacity of 25,000 people, it was the main home-ground for the team during a period, in 2007 due to some disputes between state association and Pune Municipal Corporation regarding ticket allocation, led to an international match between India and Sri Lanka to be shifted to Kolkata, Following this the MCA decided a new stadium was needed and began the planning and construction for MCA Stadium. It also has hosted few of Cricket World Cup games.

[[Hutatma Anant Kanhere Maidan|Hutatma Anant Kanhere Maidan, Nashik]]

Formerly known as the Golf Club Ground. The ground is named after Hutatma Anant Kanhere, who was a freedom-fighter from Nasik. This was home ground for Maharashtra cricket team since the dispute over the Nehru Stadium in Pune until the new stadium was constructed in Pune. This ground still hosts domestic games for Maharashtra team.

[[Indira Gandhi Stadium (Solapur)|Indira Gandhi Stadium, Solapur]]

The Indira Gandhi Stadium is located in Solapur, and has a capacity of 30,000 spectators, the venue is named after Indira Gandhi, the fourth prime minister of India. This stadium still hosts domestic games and is equipped with modern facilities as well.

[[Deccan Gymkhana Ground|Deccan Gymkhana Ground, Pune]]

Located in Deccan Gymkhana area of Pune, the Deccan Gymkhana and its grounds were founded in October 1906, This sports ground/club has hosted Davis Cup and had hosted the older (2009-12) Maharashtra premier league games.

Honours

• Source - ESPNcricinfo & The Association of Cricket and Historians

Famous players

Main article: List of Maharashtra cricketers

Other Notable Maharashtra cricketers

• D. B. Deodhar
• Santosh Jedhe
• Surendra Bhave
• Dnyaneshwar Agashe
• B. B. Nimbalkar
• Ashutosh Agashe
• Shantanu Sugwekar
• Milind Gunjal
• Harshad Khadiwale
• Ankit Bawne
• Nikhil Naik

Current squad

Players with international caps are listed in bold.

• Updated as on 20 December 2025, according to ESPNcricinfo

Coaching staff

• Source - Maharashtra Cricket Association

References

References

1. "Shaun Williams Appointed Director of Cricket (MCA Academy) & Head Coach – Returns to Lead Senior Men’s Revival (10 September 2025) – Maharastra Cricket Assoiciation".
2. (9 November 2022). "Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Winners List (Updated) from 2009-10 to 2022". www.mpl.live.
3. "Maharashtra v Bombay 1934–35". ESPNcricinfo.
4. "Ranji Trophy Winners". static.espncricinfo.com.
5. "'It feels really nice' - Prithvi Shaw after cracking 383-ball 379". ESPN.
6. "Ranji Trophy Playing Record". CricketArchive.
7. (2022-05-01). "Full Vijay Hazare Trophy winners list (2002/03 - 2021)". Mpl Blog.
8. (29 November 2022). "Ruturaj Gaikwad breaks List a world mark with 7 sixes in an over". The Times of India.
9. (2025-01-19). "List of Chennai Super Kings records". Wikipedia.
10. "Kolkata likely to host India's ODI against Sri Lanka".
11. Desk, Sportskeeda. (2011-09-02). "Maharashtra Premier League-3 : MPL players to go far and wide for blessings".
12. "Shaun Williams Appointed Director of Cricket (MCA Academy) & Head Coach – Returns to Lead Senior Men’s Revival (10 September 2025) – Maharastra Cricket Assoiciation".
13. "Cricket Committee – Maharastra Cricket Assoiciation".