Irani Cup for Mumbai, my double hundred for brother Musheer: Sarfaraz Khan

After Mumbai won the Iran Cup, Sarfaraz Khan dedicated his match-winning double-century in the Irani Cup to his brother Musheer, who missed the tournament due to an accident.

In Short

• Sarfaraz Khan scores match-winning double century, dedicates it to brother
• Sarfaraz was named Player of the Match for his remarkable double-century
• Mumbai win Irani Cup after 27 years, securing victory with first-innings lead

Mumbai star Sarfaraz Khan has dedicated his match-winning double hundred in the Irani Cup to his brother Musheer, who had to miss the coveted domestic tournament due to an accident. Mumbai secured their 15th Irani Cup title after 27 years, with an emphatic performance against the Rest of India (ROI) at the Wankhede Stadium. The victory came by a first-innings lead, culminating in a draw on the final day, sealing the triumph for Mumbai. Sarfaraz was named Player of the Match for his remarkable double-century in the first innings.

"I try to follow the process and whatever I have done with my Abbu," Sarfaraz shared in a post-match interview. "If you travel all around India, you are used to how the wickets play. One has to work all around at their game, look at how the seniors are doing, and work on their weaknesses. This trophy is the team's, but I promised at home that I would make a hundred for Musheer. This one is for him."

Mumbai's victory was largely orchestrated by the resilience of Tanush Kotian, whose unbeaten 114 in the second innings was crucial. Mumbai declared their second innings at 329 for eight, setting the Rest of India an improbable 451 runs to chase in just over a session on the final day. Kotian's patient knock came after Mumbai resumed the day at 153 for six.

Though Sarfaraz Khan (17) and Shardul Thakur (2) were dismissed early, Kotian found solid support from No. 10 Mohit Avasthi, who remained unbeaten on 51. Together, the duo added a vital 158-run partnership for the ninth wicket, frustrating the rest of India's bowlers and solidifying Mumbai's commanding position.

The rest of India's off-spinner, Saransh Jain, fought hard, taking six wickets for 121 runs, but his efforts proved insufficient to prevent Mumbai from clinching the title.

This was Mumbai's first Irani Cup win since the 1997-98 season. The domestic cricket giants have been to eight finals in the years since but fell short on each occasion, the last being in the 2015-16 season. Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane was visibly proud of his team's effort. "Winning the trophy after 27 years feels amazing. It was a red-soil wicket, and I want to pick Tanush Kotian for his outstanding performances, not only in this match but throughout the season," said Rahane. "The Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup belong to everyone-from the maidan cricketers to everyone playing cricket in Mumbai."

Sarfaraz Khan's first-innings double hundred (200) was the backbone of Mumbai's dominance in the match. The in-form batter has been a consistent force in domestic cricket, and this knock was another reminder of his potential. Reflecting on his performance, Sarfaraz said, "I follow the process well and came into the tournament with practice. You build experience playing on different grounds and pitches. I have much to learn from being around the Test team and improving every facet of my game."