Rest of India defeated reigning Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to clinch the Irani Cup, with pacers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep sharing nine wickets in a sensational bowling performance.
Former India fast bowler Parvinder Awana has been appointed as the chairman of the newly constituted BCCI junior selection committee. The Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) also named Krishna Das, Rakesh Patel, and N. Arjun Yadav as members, with a fifth member to be announced soon. The committee members bring extensive experience from their playing careers and coaching roles at various levels.
Shreyas Gopal celebrates his 100th first-class match, reflecting on his journey from imitating Anil Kumble to becoming a successful leg-spinner and all-rounder in domestic cricket. He discusses the challenges of red-ball cricket, his dismissals of Virat Kohli, and his cherished moments with Karnataka and MS Dhoni.
Former India and Karnataka pacer R Vinay Kumar has been appointed as the head coach for the Karnataka state cricket team, replacing Yere Goud. Kumar, who previously led Karnataka to multiple domestic titles, will aim to bring more silverware to the team, with Deepak Chougule and Mansur Ali Khan joining him in the coaching staff.
'While his cricketing achievements are obvious, people should remember Ajinkya Rahane, the person. Because he has inspired youngsters in the dressing room by his powerful humane gestures.'
'If he had got the support, he would have finished in that legendary group of cricketers who have played 100 Tests for the country.' 'He never complained, but that might have gone against him because sometimes you have to be open and make your point clearly otherwise people take you for granted.'
Saransh Jain's domestic success motivated by his cancer-affected dad's inspiring note. Saransh received his India Test call-up for the Sri Lanka tour on Tuesday.
The BCCI is considering advancing the Indian Premier League schedule to a March 10-May 15 window from next year to avoid extreme heat and pre-monsoon rains. This move aims to benefit players and fans, though the number of matches will remain at 74 due to international calendar constraints.
Switching formats in a short span of time is never easy, concedes Kuldeep Yadav and the senior India spinner hopes that players coming off a gruelling IPL season have prepared well for this week's one-off Test against Afghanistan just as he did with extended red-ball practice.
It takes a lot of mental strength to play in front of nearly 100,000 people in Ahmedabad. Even the bravest can succumb to the tension.
B. Sai Sudarshan's patient half-century helped Rest of India score 298 for 8
The Kerala seamer has been ruled out of the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy match due to an injury in his right toe.
'Players who are playing First-Class cricket throughout the year, they would have had 14 First-Class games potentially with India A games, the Irani Trophy, the Duleep Trophy or even more. So a bit of break in between, switching in the formats is always good.'
Easwaran has been a domestic cricket stalwart for Bengal, with 107 first-class games, 8,070 runs at an average of 48.32 with the help of 27 centuries and 33 fifties.
'Gursharan came and helped me reach my hundred and I got selected to play for India after that.'
Kuldeep Sen blew away the last two batters with scorching pace and steep bounce to finish with a match haul of eight wickets as Rest of India won their 29th Irani Trophy with a walk-in-the-park eight-wicket victory over Saurashtra.
Rishabh Pant was ruled out for nearly three months after he fractured his foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July.
For India captain Anil Kumble, there could not have been a better preparation for the Test series against Australia than the Irani Trophy beginning on Wednesday.
Sourav Ganguly on Monday was not included in the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy match against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi to be played in Baroda, starting on September 24. Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma were also left out of the 15-man squad announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai.
The 2008 Irani Trophy cannot be just passed as a routine season-opener, infact a lot is at stake as far as Indian cricket is concerned.
'He has not played a lot of cricket in the last 2-3 years.'
Railways lifted the Irani Trophy after clinching a nine-wicket victory with nearly two days to spare against Rest of India.
'My son looks a little depressed, but that is bound to happen.'
Mohammed Shami was once ignored for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa, despite having proved his fitness in the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
The star batsman agreed to lead the side as it was a very important match of the new season.
India will be desperate for a quality replacement for the crucial No. 4 slot with Shubman Gill likely to be ruled out for the must-win second and final Test against South Africa.
Harbhajan Singh claimed four wickets for 31 runs as Rest of India beat Delhi by 187 runs to win the Irani Trophy, on Day 4 of the five-day match, at the Reliance stadium in Vadodara on Saturday. Anil Kumble also excelled with the ball, claiming three for 19 as Delhi were dismissed for 190 in 60.5 overs. Gautam Gambhir top-scored for Delhi with a valiant 91 off 176 deliveries.
The ace batsman, who was due to make a comeback for Rest of India against Ranji Trophy champions Delhi, underwent a fitness test at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore on Friday and was advised more rest.
Ousted from the national team, swashbuckling batsman Yuvraj Singh would launch his desperate comeback bid when he leads defending champions Rest of India against Ranji winners Mumbai in the Irani Trophy match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Friday.
Rest of India beat Ranji champions Uttar Pradesh by nine wickets on the third day of the match.
Ravindra Jadeja's gutsy 77 and Munaf Patel's brisk unbeaten 36 guided Rest of India to 260 in their first innings on the opening day of their Irani Trophy match against Ranji Champions Mumbai in Nagpur on Thursday.
Mumbai captain Ajit Agarkar was ruled out of the Irani Trophy match against Rest of India with an injury, a MCA official said on Monday.
Opener Murali Vijay's unbeaten 151 ensured Rest of India a crucial 75-run first innings lead on Day 2 of the Irani Trophy match against Rajasthan, at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, on Saturday.
He is expected to join RCB after the end of the ongoing Ranji season, which will resume on January 23.
'This trophy belongs to the entire team, but I made a promise at home to score a hundred for Musheer. This one is for him.'
Reigning Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha completed a coveted a grand double by winning the Irani Cup after outclassing Rest of India on basis of the first innings lead, in Nagpur, on Sunday.
Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed cheaply as Rest of India spinners shared bulk of the spoils restricting Saurashtra to 212 for 9 on the second day of the Irani Cup in Rajkot on Monday.
