The Irani Cup, a highly regarded match between the Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India (ROI) team, is a significant event in India’s red-ball domestic season. The match traditionally marks the beginning of the season.
In the current edition of the Irani Cup, Mumbai put up a strong total of 536-9 after two days of batting against the Rest of India at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Sarfaraz Khan was the standout performer for Mumbai, scoring an unbeaten 221. Captain Ajinkya Rahane also contributed significantly, though he fell just three runs short of a century. Additionally, India batter Shreyas Iyer chipped in with a valuable 57.
Despite several players getting their chance to shine in this prestigious game, some talented individuals were unfortunate to miss out on a spot in the playing XIs. Here are three players who were unlucky to miss out on the Irani Cup:
1. Musheer Khan
Musheer Khan, a promising Mumbai batter, tops the list of players unlucky to miss the Irani Cup. The 19-year-old was in fine form but suffered a neck fracture in a recent accident.
The accident occurred while Musheer was traveling with his father from Azamgarh to Lucknow for the match. Given his recent century in the Duleep Trophy, Musheer was expected to make a big impact in this game as well. Fortunately, he is reported to be recovering well.
Interestingly, Musheer’s elder brother, Sarfaraz Khan, was brought into the Mumbai side as his replacement and went on to score a brilliant 221 not out.
2. Ricky Bhui
Andhra batter Ricky Bhui also finds himself unlucky to have missed out on a place in the Rest of India XI for the Irani Cup. Coming off a successful Duleep Trophy campaign, where he scored two centuries and a half-century in six innings, Bhui seemed well-positioned for selection.
However, despite his impressive form, Bhui was not selected for the playing XI, which is surprising given his recent performances. Since the Irani Cup is a one-off match, Bhui will not get another chance to showcase his skills for ROI this season.
3. Khaleel Ahmed
Khaleel Ahmed, the left-arm seamer from Rajasthan, is another player who would have hoped to feature in the Rest of India team. Unfortunately, his chances were affected by the inclusion of Yash Dayal, who was brought in as a like-for-like replacement from the India squad.
Ahmed had a solid showing in the Duleep Trophy, where he took nine wickets in four innings. Playing in the Irani Cup would have given him a significant confidence boost. However, he will now have to wait for the Ranji Trophy to prove his form once again.