Irani Cup venue shifted: Report

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly shifted the venue of the Irani Cup 2024/25. The reigning Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai will face the Rest of India in the upcoming Irani Cup match, starting on October 1.

Previously, the BCCI had scheduled the Irani Cup 2024/25 in Mumbai. However, according to the latest ESPNcricinfo report, the BCCI has decided to shift the upcoming Irani Cup match venue due to reducing any weather disruptions, as Mumbai is going through an extensive monsoon.  

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Lucknow will host the Irani Cup 2024/25 

Lucknow will host the Irani Cup 2024/25 match, starting on October 1. It will be the first time Lucknow will host the Irani Cup match.

Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) secretary Arvind Kumar Srivastava told ESPNcricinfo, "This year's Irani Cup match will be held in Lucknow, and we are excited to host it."

Just like the previous years, the Irani Cup 2024/25 will run with only one game between the reigning Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India. 

Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy 2023/24 after beating Vidarbha by 169 runs in the final of the competition. 

While Irani Cup 2024/25 will begin on October 1, it will be the last day of the last game of the two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur. So, the Indian Test squad members for the Kanpur Test can’t participate in the Irani Cup. 

Rest of India won last three Irani Cups, Mumbai last won in 1997/98

The 30-time Irani Cup champions Rest of India have won all the last three Irani Cups (2019/20, 2022/23, and 2023/24; 2020/21 and 2021/22 Irani Cup tournaments were cancelled due to COVID-19). 

The 14-time Irani Cup champions Mumbai last played an Irani Cup match in the 2015/16 season, when they lost against the Rest of India by four wickets. Last time they won an Irani Cup was in the 1997/98 season, when they won by 54 runs.