The Irani Cup 2025 was played from October 1 to 5 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Vidarbha, led by Akshay Wadkar, played against a specially selected Rest of India team, captained by Rajat Patidar. Both teams had a mix of experienced players and young talent, making it an exciting match.
After five days of competitive cricket, Vidarbha won by 93 runs. Their strong batting and smart bowling, especially by Harsh Dubey and Parth Rekhade, helped them secure the win. Atharva Taide was named Player of the Match for his excellent fielding and key contributions.
In this article, you’ll find the 2025 squads, match schedule, venue, key players, and a day-wise summary of all the match highlights.
Tournament Overview of Irani Cup 2025
The Irani Cup is a key event in Indian domestic cricket, where the Ranji Trophy winners face a team comprising the best players from across the country.
The 2025 edition is special as Vidarbha will defend its home ground in Nagpur after winning the Ranji Trophy.
This first-class tournament tests players over several days, challenging their skill, focus, and stamina. Performances here can help players catch the eye of national selectors.
Events like the Irani Cup contribute to making cricket one of the most popular sports in India, bringing fans together and highlighting the depth of talent in domestic cricket.
Irani Cup 2025 Highlights: Vidarbha vs Rest of India
Follow the action from the Irani Cup 2025 as Vidarbha faces Rest of India, highlighting all significant plays, player contributions, and day-wise progress.
Day 5 – Vidarbha Clinch Victory by 93 Runs
- Rest of India resumed at 214/6 in their second innings, needing to bat out a long session to save the match.
- Vidarbha bowlers, led by Harsh Dubey and Parth Rekhade, bowled tight lines, picking key wickets at crucial moments.
- Manav Suthar and Yash Dhull tried to steady the innings with notable contributions of 65(approx.) and 92 runs, respectively, but wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
- In the final overs, Vidarbha wrapped up the innings at 267, securing a 93-run victory.
- Atharva Taide was named Player of the Match for his impactful fielding and support in crucial dismissals.
Final Scores:
- Vidarbha: 342 & 232
- Rest of India: 214 & 267
Day 4 – Vidarbha Extend Lead, Rest of India in Trouble
- Vidarbha resumed on 96/2, already leading by 224 runs from the first innings.
- Dhruv Shorey (24) and Danish Malewar (16) provided some resistance, but Vidarbha’s disciplined bowling kept the pressure on.
- Manav Suthar and Gurnoor Brar bowled tight lines, picking up key wickets and restricting scoring opportunities.
- Rest of India was 64/2 at 23.5 overs, struggling to cope with Vidarbha’s relentless attack.
- By stumps, Vidarbha maintained their strong position, eyeing to capitalize on their first-innings advantage and push for a commanding lead.
Day 3 – Patidar Holds the Fort, Vidarbha Eye First-Innings Lead
- Rest of India resumed at 142/5 with skipper Rajat Patidar unbeaten on 42, carrying the team’s hopes of cutting down the deficit.
- Vidarbha bowlers maintained discipline, pressing hard to close out the innings and secure the crucial first-innings lead.
- Patidar’s resilience became the backbone of ROI’s innings, but support from the lower order was limited under Vidarbha’s relentless attack.
- With runs drying up and wickets falling, Vidarbha moved closer to tightening their grip on the match, aiming to bat again and stretch their advantage.
Day 2 – Easwaran Fights, Vidarbha Respond Strongly
- Abhimanyu Easwaran led ROI’s fight with a composed half-century (52 off 112 balls).
- At 94/2, ROI looked steady, but a flurry of wickets dragged them down to 142/5 by stumps, still trailing by over 200 runs.
- Rajat Patidar remained unbeaten on 42, holding the innings together.
- Earlier, Vidarbha’s Atharva Taide converted his knock into a commanding 143, while Yash Rathod added 91 to lift them to a strong 342 total.
- ROI’s bowlers – Akash Deep and Manav Suthar, claimed 3 wickets each to keep Vidarbha in check.
Day 1 – Taide Anchors Vidarbha, ROI Stumble Early
- Vidarbha, asked to bat first, lost quick wickets to slump at 80/3 before rebuilding through Atharva Taide and Yash Rathod.
- Taide’s superb century (143 off 283 balls) and Rathod’s gritty 91 rescued Vidarbha, taking them to 342.
- ROI bowlers Akash Deep and Manav Suthar impressed with 3 wickets each.
- In reply, ROI faltered early, slipping to 142/5 at stumps, handing Vidarbha the upper hand after Day 1.
Irani Cup 2025 Match Schedule and Venues
The Irani Cup 2025 match will be played from October 1 to October 5, starting at 9:30 AM local time (4:00 AM GMT) at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Nagpur’s VCA Stadium, one of the biggest cricket stadiums in India, was established in 2008 and can hold up to 45,000 spectators.
It regularly hosts international matches, IPL games, and domestic tournaments, making it a key venue for cricket in central India.
With its modern facilities and well-maintained pitches, the stadium offers exciting contests for both batters and bowlers.
Its location and infrastructure make it a favorite among players, administrators, and fans alike.
Teams Competing in Irani Cup 2025
The 2025 Irani Cup will feature two teams competing against each other: Vidarbha, the current Ranji Trophy champions, and the Rest of India squad.
Here’s a quick look at both teams and their key details for this match.
Vidarbha Team
Vidarbha, the cricket team representing the Vidarbha region, is affiliated with the Vidarbha Cricket Association, which was established in 1934. The association underwent several name changes before adopting its current name in 1957.
Since its establishment in 1933, the Vidarbha team has grown into a strong domestic side, most recently winning the Ranji Trophy in the 2024-25 season.
For the 2025 Irani Cup, the captain of Vidarbha is Akshay Wadkar, with Yash Rathod as vice-captain. The team combines experienced players and young talents who have performed well in the domestic season.
Vidarbha will look to build on their Ranji Trophy success and demonstrate consistency and skill throughout the five-day match.
Rest of India Team
The Rest of India team brings together top performers from various state teams who excelled in tournaments like the Duleep Trophy.
This team comprises players who have represented India A or demonstrated strong form in domestic cricket, providing the team with a balanced mix of skill and experience.
For the 2025 Irani Cup, Rajat Patidar is the captain, with Ruturaj Gaikwad as vice-captain. The Rest of India team will aim to challenge the Ranji champions with their best performances, making the match a platform for top domestic talent.
Full Squad Details for Irani Cup 2025
The Rest of India and Vidarbha Teams bring their best line-ups for the Irani Cup 2025, with captains, batters, bowlers, and all-rounders.
| Rest of India | Role | Vidarbha | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajat Patidar | Captain / Batter | Akshay Wadkar | Captain / WK-Batsman |
| Abhimanyu Easwaran | Batter | Yash Rathod | Batter |
| Yash Dhull | Batter | Aman Mokhade | Batter |
| Shaik Rasheed | Batter | Dhruv Shorey | Batter |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | Batter | Atharva Taide | Batter |
| Tanush Kotian | Bowling All-rounder | Nachiket Bhute | Batting All-rounder |
| Anshul Kamboj | Bowling All-rounder | Yash Kadam | Batting All-rounder |
| Saransh Jain | Bowling All-rounder | Danish Malewar | Bowling All-rounder |
| Aryan Juyal | Wicket-keeper | Harsh Dubey | Bowling All-rounder |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicket-keeper | Darshan Nalkande | Bowling All-rounder |
| Manav Suthar | Bowler | Akshay Karnewar | Bowling All-rounder |
| Gurnoor Brar | Bowler | Shivam Deshmukh | WK-Batsman |
| Akash Deep | Bowler | Praful Hinge | Bowler |
| Khaleel Ahmed | Bowler | Parth Rekhade | Bowler |
| – | – | Aditya Thakare | Bowler |
| – | – | Yash Thakur | Bowler |
The Irani Cup 2025 features Rest of India and Vidarbha competing against each other with well-rounded squads.
Both teams combine experienced players with young talent, making them strong in batting, bowling, and all-round options.
The Rest of India unites the best performers from across the domestic season, while Vidarbha comes in as the Ranji Trophy champions.
Each team has depth and balance, which should make the five-day match competitive and enjoyable from start to finish.
Live Streaming and Broadcast Options for Irani Cup 2025
You can catch all the action of the Irani Cup 2025 live on JioHotstar, which will stream every day of the match. If you prefer TV, JioStar Network channels have you covered with full live coverage.
For quick updates or ball-by-ball scores, official cricket apps and websites are perfect. No matter where you are, these options make it easy to follow the match from Nagpur and stay updated with every key moment.
Key Players to Watch in Irani Cup 2025
The Irani Cup 2025 looks set for some interesting moments, and a few players could really decide how the match goes.
For the Rest of India Team, Abhimanyu Easwaran is important because he can anchor the innings when the team is under pressure.
Tanush Kotian is another player to watch, as he contributes to both batting and bowling, providing the team with extra strength at crucial moments.
For the Vidarbha Team, captain Akshay Wadkar leads with experience and helps his bowlers stay on track.
Yash Kadam is also key, often stepping up in the middle order to keep the team in control.
Recap of 2024 Irani Cup
The 2024 Irani Cup saw Mumbai lift the trophy after facing the Rest of India. Their strong first-innings lead gave them an early advantage, setting the tone for the match.
Tanush Kotian played a key role, scoring his second first-class century and proving his value as an all-rounder. Saransh Jain’s six-wicket haul made it difficult for the opposition to gain momentum.
Lower-order contributions also mattered. Mohit Awasthi scored his maiden half-century, and important partnerships helped Mumbai post big totals. Together, these performances secured a well-earned victory in this prestigious tournament.
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Conclusion: Vidarbha Wins Irani Cup 2025 in Nagpur
The Irani Cup 2025 was played in Nagpur from October 1–5, featuring a thrilling contest between Vidarbha and Rest of India.
The match gave young players a chance to shine, while experienced players worked to maintain their positions. Every session was important, and key moments decided the outcome.
In the end, Vidarbha won by 93 runs, with strong batting, smart bowling, and excellent fielding from players like Harsh Dubey, Parth Rekhade, and Atharva Taide.
Follow live scores, updates, and highlights to catch all the action from this prestigious tournament.
FAQs
The Rest of India team for the Irani Cup 2025 has been selected by the BCCI selectors from top domestic performers, excluding Vidarbha.
The Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai has hosted numerous Irani Cup matches over the years, though the tournament has been played across various venues throughout India.
In the Irani Cup 2025, standout players receive awards for exceptional batting, bowling, or all-round performances, highlighting their contributions.
International cricket fans can follow the match via JioHotstar (where available) or official cricket websites offering live scores and commentary.
Impressive Irani Cup performances enhance players’ visibility with national selectors, showcasing talent against strong opposition and often earning India A call-ups.
