The Irani Cup 2024, one of the highlights of Indian domestic cricket, is set to enthrall fans yet again. Scheduled to begin on October 1, the match will be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Known for providing an opportunity for emerging players to catch the selectors’ attention, this year’s competition is packed with promising talents eager to make their mark.

In this edition, Mumbai, under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, will be taking on the Rest of India, captained by Ruturaj Gaikwad. With a strong mix of seasoned professionals and dynamic youngsters, Mumbai are expected to present a stiff challenge. Meanwhile, Rest of India have assembled a star-filled squad, featuring players who have consistently excelled at the domestic level and earned recognition at the national stage.

Rest of India players poised to shine

The Rest of India team, featuring notable players like Gaikwad, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Sai Sudharsan, is geared up to take on the challenge. With a lineup capable of delivering high-caliber performances, Rest of India is expected to put up a fierce fight against Mumbai. The players are experienced and possess the skills needed to succeed in critical match situations.

Also READ: Irani Cup 2024 Schedule: Date, Match Time, Broadcast & Live Streaming details

Rest of India best XI against Mumbai:

1. Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captain)
   • Strength: Gaikwad is known for his solid technique and temperament, especially while opening the batting. He plays both pace and spin effectively, which makes him dependable in all types of conditions. His ability to pace an innings according to the situation is one of his key strengths.
   • Expectation: As captain, Gaikwad will be expected to lead by example. He needs to provide a strong start, anchor the innings, and guide the younger players. His leadership skills will also be crucial in making tactical decisions during high-pressure situations.
2. Abhimanyu Easwaran (Vice-Captain)
   • Strength: Easwaran is a calm and composed batter, excelling in playing long innings. He is a specialist at blunting the new ball, which makes him an asset at the top of the order. His ability to absorb pressure and play patiently makes him perfect for the longer formats.
   • Expectation: Easwaran will be tasked with holding one end, especially if there is a collapse. He needs to build solid partnerships, keep the scoreboard ticking, and play the role of the sheet anchor. His partnership with Gaikwad at the top could set the tone for the rest of the team.
3. Sai Sudharsan
   • Strength: Sudharsan is an aggressive left-handed batter who loves to take on the bowlers. He has an impressive range of shots and can find gaps easily, putting pressure on the opposition bowlers. His ability to shift gears makes him dangerous in any format.
   • Expectation: He will be expected to accelerate the scoring rate during the middle overs, especially after the team gets off to a good start. He can be the game-changer, adding quick runs, and needs to stabilize if the team loses early wickets.
4. Devdutt Padikkal
   • Strength: Padikkal is well known for his elegant stroke play and his proficiency in pacing the innings. He is a powerful striker against spinners, especially through the cover region. He is also capable of playing both orthodox and innovative shots.
   • Expectation: Padikkal will need to adjust according to the situation—either anchoring the innings or accelerating. He should focus on rotating the strike to maintain a healthy run rate, while also stepping up when big shots are required.
5. Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper)
   • Strength: Jurel is recognized for his sharp reflexes and athleticism behind the stumps. He is equally capable of being a handy batsman who can adapt to different game scenarios, providing useful runs down the order.
   • Expectation: As the wicketkeeper, Jurel will play a key role in organizing the field and supporting the bowlers with his energy. He is also expected to step up with the bat during crunch situations, stabilizing the innings and accelerating towards the end if required.
6. Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
   • Strength: Kishan is a dynamic batsman with the ability to play explosive innings. He is adept at handling pressure and has the confidence to take on any bowling attack. His unorthodox shots and fast scoring make him a threat in the middle order.
   • Expectation: He will be expected to score quick runs, particularly in the middle and death overs. Kishan’s role will be to build a partnership if the team is under pressure or to finish off the innings with explosive hitting. His energy in the field also adds value to the team’s dynamics.
7. Manav Suthar
   • Strength: Suthar is a talented all-rounder who can contribute effectively with both bat and ball. He has the ability to control the game’s momentum with his spin bowling, while also being a capable lower-order batsman who can score useful runs.
   • Expectation: He will be expected to contribute during crucial junctures with his accurate bowling, particularly in the middle overs to either control the run flow or take wickets. With the bat, his focus will be on adding valuable runs at the tail end, supporting the main batsmen.
8. Saransh Jain
   • Strength: Jain is a clever spinner who uses variations in pace and flight to deceive batsmen. He can bowl economically, particularly in the middle overs, and has the knack of taking wickets at crucial points in the match.
   • Expectation: Jain will be relied upon to bowl economically, restricting the opposition’s scoring opportunities and breaking partnerships when needed. His role is pivotal in the middle overs, where he can put pressure on the batsmen and shift the momentum in his team’s favor.
9. Prasidh Krishna
   • Strength: Prasidh is a tall, fast bowler known for extracting bounce and delivering well-directed yorkers. His pace and aggression make him an ideal spearhead of the bowling attack, capable of intimidating batsmen and taking early wickets.
   • Expectation: Krishna is expected to lead the pace attack, especially with the new ball, and take key wickets in the powerplay. His pace and bounce will also be useful in the death overs, where he can target batsmen with his accurate yorkers and slower balls.
10. Mukesh Kumar
    • Strength: Mukesh has built a reputation as a reliable medium pacer with immaculate line and length. He is especially effective in maintaining discipline and building pressure by containing runs, even when the ball is not swinging.
    • Expectation: Mukesh will be tasked with supporting the other fast bowlers and keeping things tight in the middle overs. He will be expected to maintain pressure on the opposition and look for opportunities to exploit any weakness in the batting lineup.
11. Yash Dayal
    • Strength: Dayal, a left-arm seamer, adds variety to the bowling attack. He can swing the ball both ways and uses variations effectively to confuse batsmen. His ability to bowl in the right areas consistently makes him a valuable asset.
    • Expectation: He will be expected to provide breakthroughs, particularly against right-handed batsmen with his angle of attack. Dayal will be tasked with bowling during critical periods—either at the start to find early success or in the middle overs to pick up crucial wickets.

Also READ: Mumbai’s best-playing XI for the Irani Cup against the Rest of India