Sarfaraz Khan was named the Player of the Match in the 2024 Irani Cup

Mumbai beat Rest of India in the 2024 Irani Cup in Lucknow. Here are five things we have learnt from the match.

Sarfaraz, Easwaran thrive in battle of BGT hopefuls

Both Sarfaraz Khan and Abhimanyu Easwaran led their side’s batting charge in the first innings. Sarfaraz came in when Mumbai were at 139-4, scoring a record-breaking 286-ball 222 not out to help them reach 537. He entered the top three on the list of cricketers with the highest first-class averages. In response, Easwaran scored 191, taking Rest of India to 416.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy fast approaching, the big scores have given them a head start to stake a claim on a Test spot Down Under. The innings reinstated Sarfaraz's ambition of being a long-term middle-order option for India, having lost his place in the XI despite a stellar start to his Test career. On the other hand, Easwaran, who has never played for India despite being a consistent performer in domestic cricket, would hope to make a case for himself as a backup opener on the flight to Australia.

Among other hopefuls, RoI captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had a mediocre outing, managing just nine.

Saransh and Kotian give a peek into India's spin future

Spinners dominated the proceedings for most of the match. Tanush Kotian, Player of the Tournament in Ranji Trophy 2023-24, impressed with three wickets to give Mumbai a decisive 121-run lead.

However, RoI's Saransh Jain was undoubtedly the pick of the tweakers. Saransh picked up a six-wicket haul in the third innings to give Mumbai a scare, reducing them to 171-8 before Kotian came to the rescue, this time with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 150-ball 114 to draw the match. Kotian also scored 64 earlier in the match.

R Ashwin is in the twilight of his career, and India don’t have an off-spinner waiting in the wings. Kotian and Saransh's performance is a positive sign for their spin reserves.

Mukesh the standout fast bowler

Mukesh Kumar, playing for RoI, was the best pacer between the two sides on a track, which had little to offer for his kind of bowling. His three early breakthroughs on the opening day of the match had Mumbai in a spot of bother. He finished with a five-wicket haul when his teammates lacked the bite to penetrate through Mumbai’s middle and lower order.

Rahane, Shaw, Thakur fuel Test comeback debate

Coming in to bat at 37-3, Rahane contributed with a 234-ball 97, playing his part in the high-scoring first innings. Under him, Mumbai lifted the Irani Cup for the first time in 27 years. He was the captain during their Ranji Trophy victory last season, but his returns with the bat were modest. The knock in Lucknow would bring a sigh of relief to the batter, who last played a Test in July 2023.

Prithvi Shaw, another out-of-favour India player, scored a 37-ball fifty in the second innings, showing glimpses of how destructive he can be when in full flow. Yet to find his feet in international cricket, Shaw would hope to carry the form in the Ranji Trophy, paving the way for his India comeback.

Among the three, Shardul Thakur perhaps has the most realistic chance of making it to the Australia tour after recovering from a foot injury. The pace-bowling all-rounder’s 59-ball 36 at No.10 again emphasised his utility as a player, especially when India tour overseas. That he scored those runs reportedly with a high fever makes it a lion-hearted effort.

Jurel pips Kishan in battle of wicketkeeping backups

Dhruv Jurel strengthened his case of being India’s reserve Test wicketkeeper with a 121-ball 93 for RoI. Meanwhile, his competitor Ishan Kishan, who has enjoyed a purple run of form on his red-ball comeback following his omission from BCCI’s central contract, scored only 38.

Jurel impressed on his debut series against England earlier this year and has donned the gloves since then before Rishabh Pant made his much-awaited return against Bangladesh recently.

For now, the debate is settled and it’s in Jurel’s favour.

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