Irani Cup 2024: Mumbai Faces Rest of India in Lucknow

The highly anticipated Irani Cup 2024-25, featuring the reigning Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai, will take place against the Rest of India team from October 1 to October 5, 2024. The match is set to be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, as announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Initially scheduled to be held elsewhere, the match was relocated to Lucknow due to persistent rain in the original city. Commenting on this decision, a BCCI statement emphasized their intent to safeguard the quality of the match by choosing a venue less affected by adverse weather.

The Rest of India squad, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, includes prominent players such as Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, and wicketkeepers Dhruv Jurel and Ishan Kishan. Key bowlers named in the squad are Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar, and Rahul Chahar. This carefully curated team aims to present stiff competition to the robust Mumbai side, captained by experienced Ajinkya Rahane.

A notable mention is for Dhruv Jurel and Yash Dayal, whose participation hinges on their involvement in the forthcoming second Test between India and Bangladesh, which is scheduled to start on September 27 in Kanpur. Similarly, Sarfaraz Khan might miss representing Mumbai should he be selected for the same Test.

Ajinkya Rahane’s Mumbai squad includes accomplished cricketers such as Siddhesh Lad and Shardul Thakur, aiming to leverage their expertise to emerge victorious. This encounter is particularly significant as it brings together some of the country’s best cricketers under one competitive platform.

The match will be widely accessible to fans, with live streaming available on Jio Cinema and broadcast via the Sports18 network, as confirmed by the BCCI.

Significantly, Mohammed Shami’s absence from the Rest of India squad has drawn attention due to his need to regain match fitness post last year’s 50-over World Cup. Observers view this as a setback to his anticipated return to the playing field, reported ESPN Cric Info.

The Irani Cup match promises a gripping face-off, with both teams eager to assert their dominance in this prestigious one-off fixture, integrating fresh talent with seasoned players.