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| Irani Cup | |
|---|---|
| Name | Irani Cup |
| Country | India |
| Administrator | Board of Control for Cricket in India |
| Cricket format | First-class cricket |
| Inaugural | 1959–60 |
| Tournament format | Single match |
| Current | 2019–20 |
Irani Cup The Irani Cup is an annual first-class cricket fixture in India played between Rest of India cricket team and the reigning Ranji Trophy champions. Conceived during the era of Madhav Mantri and instituted under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the contest traditionally marks the opening of the domestic season in a showcase involving prominent players from Mumbai cricket team, Karnataka cricket team, Delhi cricket team and other state sides. The match carries relationships with historic competitions like the Duleep Trophy, and has featured stars who represented India national cricket team, Bombay cricket team and other regional outfits.
The Irani Cup began in 1959–60 as a tribute to Z. R. Irani and was organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to celebrate the completion of 25 seasons of the Ranji Trophy. Early editions saw participation from players associated with Bombay cricket team, Hyderabad cricket team, Madras cricket team and representatives from the East Zone cricket team and West Zone cricket team. Over decades the fixture has intersected with careers of luminaries such as Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman, and it has mirrored structural shifts in BCCI scheduling, including coordination with tours by England cricket team, Australia national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team. The competition evolved concurrently with the reorganization of state teams like Bengal cricket team, Tamil Nadu cricket team and Baroda cricket team.
The Irani Cup is contested as a four-day or five-day first-class cricket match under rules administered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India and guided by playing conditions from the Marylebone Cricket Club code adapted for India. Each side bats two innings subject to declarations, follow-on conditions and over rates governed by domestic regulations that involve umpires accredited by the International Cricket Council. Squads typically reflect selections from provincial squads including Railways cricket team, Services cricket team and prominent state associations such as the Punjab cricket team and Haryana cricket team. The match uses a red ball and traditional timed-session structure similar to fixtures in the Sheffield Shield and County Championship.
The fixture pits the Rest of India cricket team—a composite XI drawing players from Mumbai cricket team, Karnataka cricket team, Uttar Pradesh cricket team, Rajasthan cricket team and other state sides—against the current Ranji Trophy winners such as Saurashtra cricket team, Vidarbha cricket team or Jammu and Kashmir cricket team where applicable. Qualification is automatic: the Ranji Trophy champion earns the right to face the Rest of India in the season-opening Irani match; this dovetails with selection cycles for the India national cricket team and influences contracts under schemes like the Indian Premier League auction regulations indirectly through performance visibility.
Historic editions include landmark performances by Vinoo Mankad, Gundappa Viswanath and Rahul Dravid and record-breaking innings by Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer. Bowling feats have been recorded by Bishan Singh Bedi, Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin across different seasons. The fixture has produced memorable outcomes involving teams like Madhya Pradesh cricket team and Gujarat cricket team and has served as a stage for players elevating to the India national cricket team or returning from injury ahead of tours such as the England tour of India and Australia tour of India. Match records document high team totals, double centuries, ten-wicket match hauls and other statistical markers maintained by the BCCI archives and chronicled alongside domestic milestones like Ranji Trophy records.
The Irani Cup trophy commemorates Z. R. Irani and symbolizes excellence in Indian cricket domestic performance. Winning the cup enhances the prestige of champions such as Mumbai cricket team and Saurashtra cricket team and serves as a proving ground for players aiming for selection to the India national cricket team and leadership roles within state associations like the Karnataka State Cricket Association or the Mumbai Cricket Association. The fixture carries weight in selection conversations with national selectors from the BCCI Selection Committee and factors into player contracts, awards such as BCCI Player of the Year and seasonal honors.
Traditionally staged at major venues including the Wankhede Stadium, Eden Gardens, MA Chidambaram Stadium and Feroz Shah Kotla, the match moves according to the Ranji champion’s home ground allocation and BCCI scheduling alongside international tours for India. The timing often coincides with pre-series preparations for tours by Australia national cricket team, England cricket team and domestic calendar entries like the Duleep Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy, and has been rescheduled in seasons affected by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Broadcast and streaming rights have been managed by entities contracted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, with coverage on broadcasters that have included Doordarshan in earlier decades and contemporary digital streaming on platforms affiliated with rights holders participating in Indian sports media ecosystems. Commentary teams often feature former internationals from India national cricket team, Australia national cricket team and England cricket team and analysis in outlets associated with sports journalism organizations and print media like The Times of India, providing exposure that feeds into selection discourse and fan engagement.
Category:Cricket competitions in India