The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced a special felicitation ceremony to celebrate the Ajinkya Rahane-led Mumbai team for their remarkable triumph in the 2024 Irani Cup. This victory is particularly historic, as it marks Mumbai’s first Irani Cup title in 27 years, with their last win dating back to the 1997-98 season. The ceremony will take place at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where the city’s cricketing legacy will once again be in the spotlight.
A Long-Awaited Triumph
Mumbai’s Irani Cup win was built on a series of stellar performances that saw them outclass a strong Rest of India (ROI) team. Sarfaraz Khan was the hero of the first innings, smashing a double century to give Mumbai a commanding 121-run lead. Tanush Kotian’s century in the second innings further tightened Mumbai’s grip on the match. Despite a valiant 191 from ROI captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mumbai set a daunting target of 450 runs.
With just over a session left on the final day, ROI skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad acknowledged Mumbai’s dominance by shaking hands with Rahane, signaling the end of the contest and confirming Mumbai as the 2024 Irani Cup champions.
Felicitation Ceremony at Wankhede
MCA president Ajinkya Naik announced that the team will be honored in a grand ceremony at Wankhede Stadium, with attendees including MCA officials, Apex Council members, and representatives from local clubs and maidans.
Once again, Mumbai has showcased their traditional grit and determination, playing ‘khadoos’ cricket that we are known for. It was an exceptional display of teamwork, with every player contributing to the victory. This win adds another chapter to our proud cricketing history, following last year’s Ranji Trophy triumph,
Naik stated.
Naik’s praise reflects the resilience and unwavering spirit of the Mumbai team, which has long been known for its ‘khadoos’ style of cricket—an uncompromising, hard-nosed approach that has brought them countless domestic titles. The 2024 Irani Cup win further cements Mumbai’s position as a dominant force in Indian cricket.
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Sarfaraz Khan Joins Elite Company
Sarfaraz Khan’s stellar performance in the Irani Cup earned him a place among Indian cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. By scoring a century against ROI, Sarfaraz became only the third player, alongside Tendulkar and Dravid, to score two centuries in the tournament’s history.
While this achievement places Sarfaraz in elite company, the all-time record for most centuries in the Irani Cup is held by Dilip Vengsarkar and Gundappa Viswanath, with four centuries each. Sarfaraz’s feat adds yet another highlight to his growing reputation as one of Mumbai’s brightest cricketing stars.
As the Mumbai team gears up to be celebrated at Wankhede, their Irani Cup victory stands as a testament to their enduring strength in domestic cricket and a reminder of the city’s rich cricketing heritage.