Mumbai Win Irani Cup After 27 Years

Ajinkya Rahane’s Mumbai cricket team has finally reclaimed the Irani Cup title, ending a 27-year drought by defeating the Rest of India (RoI) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday. This victory marks Mumbai’s 15th Irani Cup win, reinforcing their status as the most successful team in Ranji Trophy history.

A Historic Victory

The significance of this win cannot be overstated. Having last lifted the Irani Cup in the 1996-97 season, Mumbai’s journey to reclaiming the trophy has been long and arduous. Since then, they have made eight final appearances but were unable to secure the title until now.

After being sent in to bat first, Mumbai set a formidable first-innings total of 537 runs. The standout performer was Sarfaraz Khan, who scored an impressive 222 not out, marking his fourth First-Class double hundred. Captain Ajinkya Rahane also played a crucial role, contributing 97 runs to help build a substantial lead.

In response, the Rest of India managed to score 416 runs, with Abhimanyu Easwaran leading their efforts with a commendable 191 runs. Despite Easwaran’s valiant performance, Mumbai’s bowlers proved too effective, bundling RoI out for a deficit of 121 runs. This first-innings lead would ultimately prove decisive in determining the match’s outcome.

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Tanush Kotian Shines in Second Innings

In their second innings, Mumbai faced early challenges but found a hero in No. 8 Tanush Kotian. After scoring a fifty in the first innings, Kotian converted his second fifty-plus score into a remarkable 114 not out, forming an unbroken partnership of 158 runs with Mohit Avasthi (51 not out). As the match progressed towards its conclusion, both teams shook hands with Mumbai at 329 for eight, securing their victory through their substantial first-innings lead.

With this latest triumph, Mumbai has now won the Irani Cup 15 times, further extending their record as the most successful team in the tournament’s history. The Rest of India has also had a storied presence in the competition, winning it 30 times across 62 appearances.