Irani Cup to be moved out of Mumbai due to monsoon season

Ajinkya Rahane with Ranji Trophy (Photo Source: Jio Cinema)

The upcoming Irani Cup match, initially scheduled to take place in Mumbai, is set to be moved to a new venue due to the city’s extended monsoon season. The Irani Cup, an important event of India’s domestic cricket calendar, pits the defending Ranji Trophy champions against a Rest of India (ROI) squad which is scheduled to take place from October 1 to October 5.

This year’s edition was slated to feature Mumbai, who clinched the Ranji Trophy title in March 2024. Notably, they clinched the coveted title under the leadership of veteran batter, Ajinkya Rahane. Their hard-fought victory over Vidarbha by 169 runs at the iconic Wankhede Stadium had booked their spot in the exciting home encounter in the Irani Cup.

However, the prolonged monsoon season in Mumbai has contributed to the city’s cricket grounds being unsuitable for hosting a five-day match of such importance. As per Times of India, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which had initially announced Mumbai as the venue in its 2024-25 domestic calendar, has been forced to reconsider its decision in light of the persistent wet conditions.

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Ahmedabad and Lucknow frontrunners to host Irani Cup

Two venues have emerged as frontrunners to host the prestigious Irani Cup 2024 tie, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Both these state-of-the-art facilities have the necessary infrastructure and dry conditions required to host a match of this calibre.

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The Mumbai team will now be underprivileged of their home advantage. Nevertheless, Rahane & Co. will be keen to build on their Ranji Trophy success and prove themselves against the best cricketers from the rest of the country.