Ajinkya Rahane set to lead Mumbai in 2024 Irani Cup; Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur to feature as wellÂ
Mumbai are primed to name a star-studded side for the upcoming 2024 Irani Cup clash against the Rest of India at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The domestic red-ball encounter is scheduled to begin from October 1 onwards following the culmination of the Duleep Trophy.
Ajinkya Rahane recently suffered a niggle which ended his budding stint with Leicestershire in the County Championship. However, the veteran batter is expected to recover in time to lead Mumbai to potentially another silverware after their Ranji Trophy triumph earlier this year.
According to a report by Cricbuzz, prominent players Shreyas Iyer and Shardul Thakur are also set to be part of the squad, which will be announced soon by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). The report further states that Thakur made the officials know about his availability after recently featuring in the KSCA Invitational tournament.
The all-rounder had been out of commission since the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. He underwent surgery on his ankle in London on June 12, and missed the Duleep Trophy 2024 as a result of it. With India having crucial overseas red-ball assignments lined up, Thakur's return will be crucial.
Shreyas Iyer will also be part of the fixture after missing out on the squad for the Bangladesh Test series. He is currently behind in the pecking order, with the likes of KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan holding a strong grip for the middle-order slots.
The batter recently led India D in the Duleep Trophy 2024, and drew flak for his inconsistent displays which included two ducks and two fifties.
He could be in contention for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, but only from the second contest onwards as the Irani Cup tie coincides with the series opener, scheduled for October 6.
Mumbai last won the Irani Cup in 1998; Rest of India currently on a three-year streak
The Rest of India have won each of the last three editions of the Irani Cup, racking up wins over Saurashtra twice and Madhya Pradesh once. Mumbai have made it to the one-off clash a total of eight times since 2000, but have lost on all occasions.
Their last Irani Cup triumph came in 1998 at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai's home venue was slated to host the upcoming edition as well, but the clash was shifted to Lucknow due to the delayed monsoon in the city.