416/10 (110.0)
CR : 3.78
RR : 0.00
Match Drawn
Player of the Match
Sarfaraz Khan
222(286) & 17(36)
14:13 IST and Local Time | Mumbai have ended their 27 years' Irani Trophy drought with this victory over Rest of India and they are the deserving winners in every aspect.
In the first innings, Mumbai came to bat and lost their three top order batters cheaply. But Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer helped the side in the build-up as the duo registered a brief partnership between them. Iyer got out for 57 and then Rahane, the Mumbai skipper was accompanied by Sarfaraz Khan. Rahane played a crucial knock of 97 from 234 balls hitting 7 fours and a maximum. Sarfaraz however continued his golden run with the bat. He got the perfect second fiddle from Tanush Kotian who scored a fine 64 from 124 balls. Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 222 becoming the first ever batter to score a double hundred for Mumbai in the Irani Trophy. His innings was decorated by 25 fours and 4 maximums. Mumbai reached a leviathan total of 537.
For Rest of India, Mukesh Kumar took 5 wickets for 110 runs. Yash Dayal and Prasidh Krishna took 2 wickets. Saransh Jain took another.
Coming to bat next, ROI lost their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for just 9. But Abhimanyu Easwaran was firm and rock solid in his stay. His innings was supported from the other end by Sai Sudharsan(32), Devdutt Padikkal(16) and Ishan Kishan(38). Three of the them didn't sustain long. Dhruv Jurel came to the crease and stitched a 165 run partnership with Easwaran. Jurel scored 93 before getting dismissed by Shams Mulani on 93. Abhimanyu was looking promising for a double hundred but played a silly sweep to Mulani and perished at short fine leg. He scored 191 runs facing 292 balls facing 16 fours and a maximum. After the Bengal opener's dismissal, the ROI innings didn't sustain as Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar got out cheaply and they got bundled out to 416.
For Mumbai, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani took 3 wickets. Mohit Avasthi took a couple of wickets and Juned Khan took one wicket.
Coming to bat in the third innings with a lead of 121, Prithvi Shaw took on the ROI bowlers right from the start. Hardik Tamore, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer failed to get to double digit score, Shams Mulani failed to open his account. But Prithvi played a very likely innings as per his reputation. He scored 76 runs from 105 balls with 8 boundaries and a maximum. In the 5th day, Mumbai lost Sarfaraz Khan(17) and Shardul Thakur(2) in a quick succession. But Tanush Kotian and Mohit Avasthi batted solidly for the next two and a half hours to score 158 runs in their 9th wicket partnership. Tanush scored his second first class hundred and remained unbeaten on 114. Mohit scored his third fifty in first class match and remained unbeaten on 51. Mumbai finished with 329 runs losing 8 wicket with a first innings lead of 450.
For ROI, Saransh Jain took 6 wickets which is his best at the first class level. Manav Suthar took the other two wickets.
Mumbai won the Irani cup on the first innings lead as the captains agreed to have a golden handshake.
In the first innings, Mumbai came to bat and lost their three top order batters cheaply. But Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer helped the side in the build-up as the duo registered a brief partnership between them. Iyer got out for 57 and then Rahane, the Mumbai skipper was accompanied by Sarfaraz Khan. Rahane played a crucial knock of 97 from 234 balls hitting 7 fours and a maximum. Sarfaraz however continued his golden run with the bat. He got the perfect second fiddle from Tanush Kotian who scored a fine 64 from 124 balls. Sarfaraz remained unbeaten on 222 becoming the first ever batter to score a double hundred for Mumbai in the Irani Trophy. His innings was decorated by 25 fours and 4 maximums. Mumbai reached a leviathan total of 537.
For Rest of India, Mukesh Kumar took 5 wickets for 110 runs. Yash Dayal and Prasidh Krishna took 2 wickets. Saransh Jain took another.
Coming to bat next, ROI lost their skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for just 9. But Abhimanyu Easwaran was firm and rock solid in his stay. His innings was supported from the other end by Sai Sudharsan(32), Devdutt Padikkal(16) and Ishan Kishan(38). Three of the them didn't sustain long. Dhruv Jurel came to the crease and stitched a 165 run partnership with Easwaran. Jurel scored 93 before getting dismissed by Shams Mulani on 93. Abhimanyu was looking promising for a double hundred but played a silly sweep to Mulani and perished at short fine leg. He scored 191 runs facing 292 balls facing 16 fours and a maximum. After the Bengal opener's dismissal, the ROI innings didn't sustain as Saransh Jain, Manav Suthar got out cheaply and they got bundled out to 416.
For Mumbai, Tanush Kotian and Shams Mulani took 3 wickets. Mohit Avasthi took a couple of wickets and Juned Khan took one wicket.
Coming to bat in the third innings with a lead of 121, Prithvi Shaw took on the ROI bowlers right from the start. Hardik Tamore, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer failed to get to double digit score, Shams Mulani failed to open his account. But Prithvi played a very likely innings as per his reputation. He scored 76 runs from 105 balls with 8 boundaries and a maximum. In the 5th day, Mumbai lost Sarfaraz Khan(17) and Shardul Thakur(2) in a quick succession. But Tanush Kotian and Mohit Avasthi batted solidly for the next two and a half hours to score 158 runs in their 9th wicket partnership. Tanush scored his second first class hundred and remained unbeaten on 114. Mohit scored his third fifty in first class match and remained unbeaten on 51. Mumbai finished with 329 runs losing 8 wicket with a first innings lead of 450.
For ROI, Saransh Jain took 6 wickets which is his best at the first class level. Manav Suthar took the other two wickets.
Mumbai won the Irani cup on the first innings lead as the captains agreed to have a golden handshake.
Time for the presentation....
Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rest of India Captain): "I think we got what we needed in the first session with those three wickets. After that, we kept things really tight. Maybe just a few missed catches here and there, but overall, I feel we were definitely in the game.
No, I think the partnership between Sarfaraz and Tanush in the first innings definitely took the total beyond what we had expected. Then, despite being unwell, Shardul came in and contributed 30, adding 60 to 80 more runs, which further frustrated us.
So, I think those two partnerships definitely hurt us. Abhimanyu Easwaran played well, while Mukesh Kumar shone with the ball, taking five wickets. Saransh Jain also bowled impressively in the second innings."
No, I think the partnership between Sarfaraz and Tanush in the first innings definitely took the total beyond what we had expected. Then, despite being unwell, Shardul came in and contributed 30, adding 60 to 80 more runs, which further frustrated us.
So, I think those two partnerships definitely hurt us. Abhimanyu Easwaran played well, while Mukesh Kumar shone with the ball, taking five wickets. Saransh Jain also bowled impressively in the second innings."
Striker of the Match: Sarfaraz Khan
Player of the Match: Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan(Player of the Match): "Thank you sir! I don't overdo. I just follow the process that I've followed since the start of my career. I think it is all about practice.
In the Test level, you have to learn every single day. You gain experience when you play in different grounds. It is a thing to focus for me on improving day by day and overcoming the shortcomings.
Musheer had an accident and I said I will score a hundred for my brother. This trophy is for my team, everyone of the team, every cricketer in Mumbai."
In the Test level, you have to learn every single day. You gain experience when you play in different grounds. It is a thing to focus for me on improving day by day and overcoming the shortcomings.
Musheer had an accident and I said I will score a hundred for my brother. This trophy is for my team, everyone of the team, every cricketer in Mumbai."
Ajinkya Rahane (Mumbai Captain): "Absolutely special feeling—winning after 27 years. Lifting the Irani Trophy feels amazing. We knew before the game that we were up against a very strong team, but our focus was on playing good cricket.
As I mentioned at the toss, we wanted to bat on that red soil wicket. We’re used to playing on red soil at Wankhede, so we knew how the pitch would behave. It was all about playing good cricket over the five days. In matches like these, every session counts, and it’s about giving our best in each one.
I thought everyone batted really well, especially Sarfaraz Khan. But I also want to mention Tanush Kotian—he was incredible for us last season, and in this game, he has been outstanding again.
It's equally special. Before this game, we were discussing how to approach it, as it's the start of the season. We wanted to treat it like just another game, you know, as if it were a regular Ranji Trophy league match, and approach it that way. I believe both the Ranji Trophy victory and this Irani Trophy win are equally special.
The plus point was that everyone had been playing matches. Some guys participated in the Buchi Babu games, and a few played in the Duleep Trophy as well, which boosted everyone’s confidence. The preparation was outstanding, and credit goes to the support staff for their hard work. Our off-season camp started in June, so they deserve recognition for their efforts too.
For me, as long as I’m playing, it’s all about giving my best. Right now, I'm representing Mumbai, and it's essential to set the right example for all the players. This Irani Trophy, like the Ranji Trophy, belongs to all the Mumbaikers and the players who have dedicated themselves to Maidan cricket, as well as to all the club members who have worked hard for so many years. This trophy is for everyone. I’m just trying my best to give my all each day, playing the game in the right way, with the right mindset, and remaining true to the sport."
As I mentioned at the toss, we wanted to bat on that red soil wicket. We’re used to playing on red soil at Wankhede, so we knew how the pitch would behave. It was all about playing good cricket over the five days. In matches like these, every session counts, and it’s about giving our best in each one.
I thought everyone batted really well, especially Sarfaraz Khan. But I also want to mention Tanush Kotian—he was incredible for us last season, and in this game, he has been outstanding again.
It's equally special. Before this game, we were discussing how to approach it, as it's the start of the season. We wanted to treat it like just another game, you know, as if it were a regular Ranji Trophy league match, and approach it that way. I believe both the Ranji Trophy victory and this Irani Trophy win are equally special.
The plus point was that everyone had been playing matches. Some guys participated in the Buchi Babu games, and a few played in the Duleep Trophy as well, which boosted everyone’s confidence. The preparation was outstanding, and credit goes to the support staff for their hard work. Our off-season camp started in June, so they deserve recognition for their efforts too.
For me, as long as I’m playing, it’s all about giving my best. Right now, I'm representing Mumbai, and it's essential to set the right example for all the players. This Irani Trophy, like the Ranji Trophy, belongs to all the Mumbaikers and the players who have dedicated themselves to Maidan cricket, as well as to all the club members who have worked hard for so many years. This trophy is for everyone. I’m just trying my best to give my all each day, playing the game in the right way, with the right mindset, and remaining true to the sport."
Ajinkya Rahane collects the Irani Cup Trophy from Riasat Ali, the honorary joint secretary of Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association. He joins his teammates for the celebration and they are posing for a photograph. The team members are over the moon. They deserve every bit of it. They have won it after 27 years!!
Time to conclude our coverage from the Irani Trophy 2024-25. Mumbai have won the trophy on the first innings lead and clinched the trophy after 27 years. For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Deepak Prakash and our scorer/analyst Ashok Dayma.