Irani Cup

{{Short description|First-class cricket championship game in India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox cricket tournament main

| name = Irani Cup

| image =

| image_size =

| country = India

| administrator = BCCI

| cricket format = First-class cricket

| first = 1959–60

| last = 2024–25

| next = 2025–26

| tournament format = One-off

| participants = 2

| champions = Mumbai (15th title)

| most successful = Rest of India (30 titles)

| qualification = Ranji Trophy

| most runs = Wasim Jaffer (1,294){{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=128;type=trophy |title=Irani Cup – Most Runs |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=5 December 2023}}

| most wickets = Padmakar Shivalkar (51){{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=128;type=trophy |title=Irani Cup – Most Wickets |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=5 December 2023}}

|current=2024–25}}

The Irani Cup, also known as the IDFC First Bank Irani Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual one-off First-Class cricket match organised by the BCCI and contested each season by the reigning Ranji Trophy champions and a multi-state RoI team composed of players from the other state teams. The inaugural edition was played in March 1960 as a special event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ranji Trophy. It was intended to be a one-off match but, in 1962, BCCI decided to institute it as annual fixture and it has been played in most seasons since 1962–63.[https://acscricket.com/?page_id=2700 Irani Cup Winners 1959/60–]. Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 December 2023. BCCI named the Irani Trophy after Zal R. Irani, their long-serving president and treasurer, who was a significant figure in the organisation from its inception in 1928, till his death in 1970.[https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/irani-cup-full-fledged-indian-teams Irani Cup and full-fledged Indian teams]. SportsKeeda. Retrieved 5 December 2023.

History

The first match between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India was played in 1959–60. It was intended to be a one-off event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ranji Trophy. In 1962, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to resurrect it as an annual event, although it did not take place in 1964–65. The trophy was named in honour of Zal R. Irani, who was a long time treasurer and president of BCCI, and a keen patron of the game. The first three matches were played towards the end of the season but then, having recognised the fixture's prestige, BCCI moved it to the beginning of the season and, from 1965–66 to 2012–13, it traditionally heralded the start of each new domestic season.

In 2013, the fixture was moved to a date immediately after the Ranji Trophy final, resulting in there being two Irani Cup matches in the 2012/13 season. The fixture has since remained at the end of the season, and is played shortly after the Ranji Trophy final.{{cite web |url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/irani-cup-history-perspective-2/97893 |first=Mohandas |last=Menon |title=Irani Cup: history and perspective |publisher=Wisden India |access-date=18 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301172753/http://www.wisdenindia.com/cricket-article/irani-cup-history-perspective-2/97893 |archive-date=1 March 2014 |url-status=dead}} Two matches were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and, in 2022, BCCI decided to organise two editions back-to-back. These were the 2019–20 and 2022–23 matches, which were played at Rajkot and Indore respectively.{{cite web | url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/both-saurashtra-and-madhya-pradesh-to-play-irani-cups-in-2022-23-1332739?platform=amp | title=Both Saurashtra and Madhya Pradesh to play Irani Cups in 2022–23 |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=6 September 2022}}

Results

The following table lists the results of all Irani Trophy matches. The source shows that ROI have taken part in all 61 matches to the most recent in October 2023, winning 26 with 25 losses and eight draws. By far the most appearances by a single state side is 29 by Bombay/Mumbai, who have won the trophy twelve times. Karnataka have played in eight matches, winning six; and Delhi in seven, winning two. Four teams have appeared twice: Railways (two wins); Vidarbha (two draws); Rajasthan (two defeats); and Saurashtra (two defeats). Another nine teams have appeared once.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
style="width:100px"|Season

! style="width:125px"|Venue

! style="width:110px"|Winner

! style="width:110px"|Runner-up

! style="width:100px"|Result

! Notes

! Refs

1959–60Karnail Singh Stadium, DelhiBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnThe inaugural match was meant to be a one-off event to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ranji Trophy. Bombay won the drawn game by achieving first innings lead. Three Test batsmenPolly Umrigar, Nari Contractor, and M. L. Jaisimha — scored centuries in the match.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/23/23988.html Rest of India v Bombay: Irani Cup 1959/60]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 December 2023. {{subscription required}}[https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/irani-trophy-1959-60-369522/rest-of-india-vs-bombay-369526/full-scorecard Rest of India v Bombay: Irani Cup 1959/60]. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
1960–61rowspan=2 colspan=5 | no competitionrowspan=2 |
1961–62
1962–63Brabourne StadiumBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.

| {{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/irani-trophy-1962-63-369531/bombay-vs-rest-of-india-369534/full-scorecard |title=Bombay vs ROI, Irani Trophy 1962/63 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=7 December 2023}}

1963–64District College Stadium, AnantpurBombayRest of India109 runs{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/irani-trophy-1963-64-369536/rest-of-india-vs-bombay-369540/full-scorecard |title=ROI vs Bombay, Irani Trophy 1963/64 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=7 December 2023}}
1964–65colspan=5 | no competition
1965–66Nehru Stadium, Madrasmatch drawnAlthough this match was drawn, the first innings lead tie-break rule could not be enforced since both first innings were not completed.
Bombay and Rest of India shared the trophy.{{efn|name=drawn|Usually, if the match is drawn, the trophy is awarded to the team which had first innings lead. There was an exception to this in 1965–66, when the trophy was shared because both first innings could not be completed.}}
1966–67Eden GardensRest of IndiaBombay6 wickets
1967–68Brabourne StadiumBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1968–69Brabourne StadiumRest of IndiaBombay119 runs
1969–70Poona Club Ground, PoonaBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1970–71Eden GardensBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1971–72Brabourne StadiumRest of IndiaBombay119 runs
1972–73PoonaBombayRest of India220 runs
1973–74BangaloreRest of IndiaBombaymatch drawnRest of India won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1974–75AhmedabadKarnatakaRest of Indiamatch drawnKarnataka won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1975–76VidarbhaBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1976–77Feroz Shah KotlaBombayRest of India10 wickets
1977–78Wankhede StadiumRest of IndiaBombayinnings and 168 runs
1978–79BangaloreRest of IndiaKarnataka9 wickets
1979–80JalandharabandonedHeavy rain caused the match between ROI and Delhi to be abandoned without a ball bowled.
No toss was made and the Irani Cup was shared.
[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/39/39941.html Rest of India v Delhi: Irani Cup 1979/80]. CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 December 2023. {{subscription required}}
1980–81Feroz Shah KotlaDelhiRest of Indiamatch drawnDelhi won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1981–82IndoreBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1982–83Feroz Shah KotlaRest of IndiaDelhi5 wickets
1983–84RajkotKarnatakaRest of Indiamatch drawnKarnataka won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1984–85Feroz Shah KotlaRest of IndiaBombay4 wickets
1985–86Vidarbha Cricket Association GroundBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1986–87JodhpurRest of IndiaDelhiinnings and 232 runs
1987–88SecunderabadHyderabadRest of Indiamatch drawnHyderabad won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1988–89Chepauk StadiumTamil NaduRest of India3 wickets
1989–90Wankhede StadiumDelhiRest of India309 runs
1990–91BangaloreRest of IndiaBengalmatch drawnRest of India won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1991–92FaridabadHaryanaRest of India4 wickets
1992–93Feroz Shah KotlaRest of IndiaDelhiinnings and 122 runs
1993–94LudhianaRest of IndiaPunjab181 runs
1994–95Wankhede StadiumBombayRest of Indiamatch drawnBombay won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1995–96Wankhede StadiumBombayRest of India9 wickets
1996–97BangaloreKarnatakaRest of India5 wickets
1997–98Wankhede StadiumMumbaiRest of India54 runs
1998–99BangaloreKarnatakaRest of Indiamatch drawnKarnataka won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
1999–2000BangaloreRest of IndiaKarnatakainnings and 60 runs
2000–01Wankhede StadiumRest of IndiaMumbai10 wickets
2001–02VidarbhaRest of IndiaBaroda6 wickets
2002–03DelhiRailwaysRest of India5 wickets
2003–04Chepauk StadiumRest of IndiaMumbai3 wickets
2004–05MohaliRest of IndiaMumbai290 runs
2005–06DelhiRailwaysRest of India9 wickets
2006–07VidarbhaRest of IndiaUttar Pradesh9 wickets
2007–08RajkotRest of IndiaMumbai9 wickets
2008–09Vadodara

|Rest of India

Delhi187 runs
2009–10VidarbhaRest of IndiaMumbaimatch drawnRest of India won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
2010–11JaipurRest of IndiaMumbai361 runs
2011–12JaipurRest of IndiaRajasthan404 runs
2012–13BangaloreRest of IndiaRajasthaninnings and 79 runs{{cite news |url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/match-report/roi-rout-rajasthan-win-irani-cup/26917 |title=ROI rout Rajasthan to win Irani Cup |publisher=Wisden India |date=24 September 2012 |access-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102739/http://www.wisdenindia.com/match-report/roi-rout-rajasthan-win-irani-cup/26917 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}
2013Wankhede StadiumRest of IndiaMumbaimatch drawnRest of India won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/irani-cup-2012/content/current/story/604357.html |title=Eighth consecutive title for ROI |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=6 December 2023}}{{cite news |url=http://www.wisdenindia.com/match-report/jaffer-ton-vain-rest-win-irani-cup/50210 |title=Jaffer ton in vain as Rest win Irani Cup |publisher=Wisden India |date=10 February 2013 |access-date=6 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000929/http://www.wisdenindia.com/match-report/jaffer-ton-vain-rest-win-irani-cup/50210 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}
2013–14BangaloreKarnatakaRest of Indiainnings and 222 runs
2014–15BangaloreKarnatakaRest of India246 runs{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/irani-cup-2014-15/engine/match/776117.html |title=Irani Cup at Bengaluru, March 2015 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 December 2023}}
2015–16Brabourne StadiumRest of IndiaMumbai4 wickets{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/irani-cup-2015-16/engine/match/902251.html |title=Irani Cup at Mumbai, March 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 December 2023}}
2016–17Brabourne StadiumRest of IndiaGujarat6 wickets{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/irani-cup-2016-17/engine/match/1053705.html |title=Irani Cup at Mumbai, January 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 December 2023}}
2017–18Vidarbha Cricket Association StadiumVidarbhaRest of Indiamatch drawnVidarbha won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
2018–19Vidarbha Cricket Association StadiumVidarbhaRest of Indiamatch drawnVidarbha won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.
2019–20RajkotRest of IndiaSaurashtra8 wickets
2020–21rowspan=2 colspan=5 | In both of these seasons, the fixture was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemicrowspan=2 |
2021–22
2022–23GwaliorRest of IndiaMadhya Pradesh238 runs
2023–24RajkotRest of IndiaSaurashtra175 runs
2024–25LucknowMumbaiRest of Indiamatch drawnMumbai won the Irani Cup through their first innings lead.

Statistics

= Team statistics =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"

! style="border-bottom:none" |

! colspan="4" |Appearances

style="border-top:none;width:180px;" |Team

! width="40" |Total

! width="40" |Champions

! width="40" |Runners-up

!Shared/No Result

style="text-align:left;" |Rest of India

|62

|30

|30

|2

style="text-align:left;" |Mumbai

|30

|15

|14

|1

style="text-align:left;" |Karnataka

|8

|6

|2

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Delhi

|7

|2

|4

|1

style="text-align:left;" |Railways

|2

|2

|0

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Rajasthan

|2

|0

|2

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Vidarbha

|2

|2

|0

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Saurashtra

|2

|0

|2

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Hyderabad

|1

|1

|0

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Tamil Nadu

|1

|1

|0

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Haryana

|1

|1

|0

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Bengal

|1

|0

|1

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Punjab

|1

|0

|1

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Baroda

|1

|0

|1

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Uttar Pradesh

|1

|0

|1

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Gujarat

|1

|0

|1

| -

style="text-align:left;" |Madhya Pradesh

|1

|0

|1

| -

Broadcasters

BCCI's official broadcasters Sports18 and JioCinema air the match live on TV and internet respectively. BCCI's website, bcci.tv, airs match highlights and scores.{{cite web |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/irani-cup-2023-live-streaming-madhya-pradesh-vs-rest-of-india-tv-channel-squads/article66555955.ece/amp/&ved=2ahUKEwi8moXOxL39AhU_9zgGHVUbAfoQtwJ6BAg9EAE&usg=AOvVaw3zIsTFR0JGMEltwcs7QexE |title=Irani Cup live streaming info |work=The Hindu |date=28 February 2023 |access-date=2 March 2023}}

Sponsorship

class="wikitable"

!Period

!Sponsor

!Brand

2007–2010

|World Sport Group{{Cite web |title=Airtel wins India corporate sponsorship rights |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/india-airtel-wins-india-corporate-sponsorship-rights-473443 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

|

2010–2013

|Bharti Airtel

|Airtel Irani Cup{{Cite web |title=Airtel will not renew BCCI home series contract |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/airtel-will-not-renew-bcci-contract-for-series-sponsorship-672667 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2010-08-20 |title=Airtel wins Team India home series sponsorship rights |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/airtel-wins-team-india-home-series-sponsorship-rights/story-aETJBbPXTSlqoFCkmeLoLI.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

2013–2014

|Star India Pvt. Ltd.

|Star Irani Cup{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2014-08-28 |title=Micromax wins BCCI sponsorship rights for 2014-15 matches |url=https://www.livemint.com/Consumer/vacNdiqF9Nh3aZRp2LmJyK/Micromax-wins-Rs18-crore-BCCI-title-sponsorship-for-201415.html |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=mint |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Star India gets series-title rights |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/star-india-gets-series-title-rights-676399 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}

2014–2015

|Micromax Informatics

|Micromax Irani Cup

2015–2022

|Paytm

|Paytm Irani Cup{{Cite web |title=Paytm awarded title sponsorship rights for BCCI International and Domestic seasons 2019-23 |url=https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2019/news/130018/paytm-awarded-title-sponsorship-rights-for-bcci-international-and-domestic-seasons-2019-23 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www.bcci.tv |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=www.ETBrandEquity.com |title=Mastercard replaces Paytm as title sponsor for all BCCI matches: Report - ET BrandEquity |url=https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/marketing/mastercard-replaces-paytm-as-title-sponsor-for-all-bcci-matches-report/93187638 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=ETBrandEquity.com |language=en}}

2022–2023

|Mastercard

|Mastercard Irani Cup{{Cite web |title=Mastercard acquires title sponsorship rights for all BCCI international and domestic home matches |url=https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2022/news/55555921/mastercard-acquires-title-sponsorship-rights-for-all-bcci-international-and-domestic-home-matches |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www.bcci.tv |language=en}}

2023–present

|IDFC First Bank

|IDFC First Irani Cup{{Cite web |title=BCCI announces new title sponsor for international and domestic matches at home |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/bcci-title-sponsorship-rights-idfc-first-bank-details-2426739-2023-08-25 |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=India Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=IDFC First acquires title sponsorship rights for all BCCI international and domestic home matches |url=https://www.bcci.tv/articles/2023/news/55556033/idfc-first-acquires-title-sponsorship-rights-for-all-bcci-international-and-domestic-home-matches |access-date=2024-01-10 |website=www.bcci.tv |language=en}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist}}