The Irani Trophy tournament was initialized during the 1959-60 season in order to mark the completion of twenty five years of the Ranji Trophy Championship. This trophy is named after the late Z. R. Irani, who was attached with the Board of Control for Cricket in India. This trophy was named after this keen patron of the game from its inception in 1928 till his death in 1970. Prior to becoming the president of the board from 1966 to 1969, Irani was the long time honorary treasurer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from 1948 to 1962. He was also one of the vice-presidents from 1963 to 1965. To appreciate his services to the Indian cricket, the BCCI organized a trophy in his name which would be presented to the winners of the tournaments to be participated between the Ranji Trophy champions of the previous year and a chosen Rest of India XI.
The Irani Trophy game ranks high in status and in significance. It is also one of the popular domestic tournaments which are followed with eager curiosity by the cricket lovers in the country. There are leading players who take part in this game and which has also been a sort of selection trial for picking the Indian team for foreign tours. Moreover, in the initial stage, the match was played towards the end of the season. Post 1965-66, the Trophy game was signaled on the start of the new domestic season. Other than that, the Irani Trophy is popular as there are leading cricketers who take active part in the match. It is also seen as a great opportunity for the cricketers to catch the selector’s attention.
The idea
The idea of a match between the rest of India and the Ranji Trophy champions was first controversial in 1941-42. This was the period of war, when all the conquering Maharashtra side got bumpy against the rest of the country. However, this proved the solitary instance till the date when the trophy completed its silver jubilee in 1959-60. After five years, it was shifted to the start of the next season. The Ranji Trophy tournament was not held during the specific season, like in 1960-61, 1961-62, 1964-65 and 1979-80.
The first match of this series was played between the Rest of India and Bombay at the Ferozshah Kotla ground in Delhi which was held from the month of March 18 to 20, in 1960. Though this match was drawn, the Bombay team was declared the winners on the first innings lead. The first player to have gained the distinction of scoring the first century of this match was Polly Umrigar of Bombay with 102 in 137 minutes with 14 fours. Jasu Patel, the Gujarat off-spinner, claimed 14 wickets against the Australian team at Kanpur 3 months before this match was held. Patel was the first to take a five wicket haul of 5 for 98 in 23 over for the Rest of India team.
In 1990-91, the Rest of India team scored 757 runs for 7 wickets against Bengal at Bangalore. This is the highest score scored by a team in the match, while 83 runs by the Rest team against the Bombay at Anantapur in the 1963-64 was the lowest in the tournament.