Mumbai win Irani Cup for first time in 27 years after Tanush Kotian rescue act

Irani Cup 2024: Mumbai held Rest of India to a draw after securing a first-innings lead in Lucknow. Ajinkya Rahane's men went on to win the domestic trophy for the 15th time, first triumph since the 1997-98 season.

In Short

• Tanush Kotian hit an unbeaten 114 in the second innings for Mumbai
• Mumbai recovered from 171 for 8 to post 329 for 8 before the game ended in a draw
• Sarfaraz Khan hit a double hundred for Mumbai in the first innings

Mumbai won the Irani Cup for the 15th time, 27 years after their last triumph, on Saturday, October 5 in Lucknow. Tanush Kotian's sensational second-innings hundred helped Mumbai draw the five-day game against Rest of India at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium. Ajinkya Rahane's Mumbai completed the Ranji Trophy-Irani Cup double to assert their dominance as one of the powerhouses of Indian cricket.

Mumbai were adjudged the winners of the match by virtue of the first-innings lead. The Irani Cup is another feather in captain Ajinkya Rahane's hat as the senior cricketer continues to win trophies in red-ball cricket.

One of the stars of Mumbai's triumph was spinner Tanush Kotian, who hit his maiden first-class hundred to help Mumbai avoid a tricky situation on the final day. Despite securing a 121-run first-innings lead, Mumbai were put on the back foot when they were reeling at 171 for 8 on Friday in Lucknow.

While opener Prithvi Shaw hit a solid 76, none of the other stars in the top-order, including Rahane (9), Shreyas Iyer (8), Sarfaraz Khan (17) and Hardik Tamore (7), were able to get going. Rest of India off-spinner Saransh Jain brought his team back into the contest on Friday evening with a flurry of wickets.

However, Tanush Kotian and Mohit Avasthi came up with a resolute effort, stitching 158 runs for the ninth wicket. The two teams shook hands and confirmed the draw after Avasthi got to his fifty towards the end of the second session.

Mumbai did not risk declaring their innings and allowing Rest of India to bat again, knowing fully well that the first-innings lead was enough for them to secure the Irani Cup.

Brief Scores: Mumbai (537 and 329 for 8) draw vs Rest of India (416) in Lucknow.

CRISIS MAN KOTIAN SHINES AGAIN

Tanush Kotian has made it a habit to be the crisis man for Mumbai with the bat. In the side for his off-spin, Kotian hit a crucial 89 not out to help Mumbai from 211 for 8 and post 378 in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu earlier this year. With 12 fifties and a hundred in 29 first-class matches, Kotian has amassed 1273 runs at an average of 41. He scored 64 in the first innings for Mumbai to help them add crucial late runs and stretch their late. Kotian picked three wickets in the Irani Cup, taking his tally to 85 wickets at an average of 25.87.

Earlier in the match, Mumbai rode on Sarfaraz Khan's double hundred to post the mammoth first-innings total.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane missed out on a hundred by three runs and Shreyas Iyer hit a confidence-boosting 57 for Mumbai in the first innings. Sarfarz tore into the Rest of India's bowling attack, smashing 222 from 286 balls, hitting 25 boundaries and four sixes. Kotian chipped in with a patient 64.

For Rest of India, Mukesh Kumar picked a five-wicket haul while Yash Dayal and Prasidh Krishna picked two each.

In response, Abhimanyu Easwaran led from the front and scored 191, missing out on a well-deserved double hundred for Rest of India. Test wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel also returned to touch, hitting a quick 93 off 121 balls. The two batters 165 for the fifth wicket for the Rest of India. When Easwaran and Dhruv kept Rest of India's charge going, it looked like they would get closer to Mumbai's first innings total.

However, Shams Mulani and Kotian ran through the lower-order after the former picked up the wickets of Easwaran and Dhruv in quick succession. Rest of India lost their last six wickets for just 23 runs and it proved to be decisive. Kotian proved decisive with his runs in the lower-order proving to be the difference between the two sides.