Lucknow

Mumbai has once again etched its name in cricket history by winning the Irani Cup for the 15th time, defeating the Rest of India (RoI) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. This victory marks a significant milestone, as it allows Mumbai to complete a rare Ranji Trophy-Irani Cup double in the same season.

On the final day of this thrilling five-day match, Tanush Kotian played a pivotal role with his remarkable second first-class century. After leading by 121 runs following a huge first innings total of 537, Mumbai found themselves in trouble at 171 for 8. Early resistance came from Prithvi Shaw, who scored a solid 76, but the batting lineup, including star players Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Sarfaraz Khan, struggled to build on their starts.

However, Kotian’s grit shone through as he partnered with Mohit Avasthi for an impressive 158-run stand for the ninth wicket, allowing Mumbai to extend their lead to 450 runs. Kotian’s unbeaten 114, combined with Avasthi’s half-century, secured the title based on their first-innings lead when both teams agreed to a draw.

Kotian, who also contributed 64 runs in the first innings and took three wickets in the match, proved his reliability under pressure. This triumph ends a 27-year wait for the Irani Cup, with Mumbai’s last win dating back to 1997.