The Ranji Trophy is right there at the top in India’s domestic cricket. But it’s not the only tournament that enjoys a premier status.
We also have the Irani Cup. Although it’s a one-off five-day contest, it puts two teams with the best players against each other. While one team remains the same (Rest of India), the other is the defending champions of the Ranji Trophy.
The Ranji Trophy winners often look to add one more feather to their cap as Rest of India push them to the corner.
That said, here’s a look at the Irani Cup winners in each season.
Irani Cup Winners
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1959-60 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1960-61 | No competition | — |
| 1961-62 | No competition | — |
| 1962-63 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1963-64 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1964-65 | No competition | — |
| 1965-66 | Bombay & Rest of India (shared) | — |
| 1966-67 | Rest of India | Bombay |
| 1967-68 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1968-69 | Rest of India | Bombay |
| 1969-70 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1970-71 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1971-72 | Rest of India | Bombay |
| 1972-73 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1973-74 | Rest of India | Bombay |
| 1974-75 | Karnataka | Rest of India |
| 1975-76 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1976-77 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1977-78 | Rest of India | Bombay |
| 1978-79 | Rest of India | Karnataka |
| 1979-80 | Delhi & Rest of India (shared) | — |
| 1980-81 | Delhi | Rest of India |
| 1981-82 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1982-83 | Rest of India | Delhi |
| 1983-84 | Karnataka | Rest of India |
| 1984-85 | Rest of India | Bombay |
| 1985-86 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1986-87 | Rest of India | Delhi |
| 1987-88 | Hyderabad | Rest of India |
| 1988-89 | Tamil Nadu | Rest of India |
| 1989-90 | Delhi | Rest of India |
| 1990-91 | Rest of India | Bengal |
| 1991-92 | Haryana | Rest of India |
| 1992-93 | Rest of India | Delhi |
| 1993-94 | Rest of India | Punjab |
| 1994-95 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1995-96 | Bombay | Rest of India |
| 1996-97 | Karnataka | Rest of India |
| 1997-98 | Mumbai | Rest of India |
| 1998-99 | Karnataka | Rest of India |
| 1999-00 | Rest of India | Karnataka |
| 2000/01 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2001/02 | Rest of India | Baroda |
| 2002/03 | Railways | Rest of India |
| 2003/04 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2004/05 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2005/06 | Railways | Rest of India |
| 2006/7 | Rest of India | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2007/8 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2008/9 | Rest of India | Delhi |
| 2009-10 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2010-11 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2011-12 | Rest of India | Rajasthan |
| 2012-13 | Rest of India | Rajasthan |
| 2012-13 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2013-14 | Karnataka | Rest of India |
| 2014-15 | Karnataka | Rest of India |
| 2015-16 | Rest of India | Mumbai |
| 2016-17 | Rest of India | Gujarat |
| 2017-18 | Vidarbha | Rest of India |
| 2018-19 | Vidarbha | Rest of India |
| 2019-20 to 2021-22 | No competition | — |
| 2022-23 | Rest of India | Saurashtra |
| 2022-23 | Rest of India | Madhya Pradesh |
| 2023-24 | Rest of India | Saurashtra |
| 2024-25 | Mumbai | Rest of India |
| 2025-26 | Vidarbha | Rest of India |
| 2026-27 | Rest of India | Jammu and Kashmir |
Rest of India: 33 (2 shared)
Rest of India are the most successful team in the Irani Cup history. They have won the title 33 times.
Their first title came in 1965-66, although they had to share it with Bombay (now Mumbai). They won one more shared title, this one with Delhi, as the 1979-80 match was abandoned without a ball bowled.
Rest of India’s first outright win came in 1966-67, beating Bombay by six wickets in a low-scoring fixture in Kolkata.
Their most recent victory came in 2026-27, as they pulled off a 167-run win against Jammu and Kashmir despite conceding a first-innings lead.
Rest of India’s Irani Cup Title Wins by Season:
1965-66 (shared), 1966-67, 1968-69, 1971-72, 1973-74, 1977-78, 1978-79, 1979-80 (shared), 1982-83, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1990-91, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2012-13, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2022-23, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2026-27.
Mumbai: 16 (1 shared)
Mumbai have won the second-most Irani Cup titles. They were, in fact, the inaugural title winners in 1959-60 after securing a first-innings lead.
Mumbai won 15 of their 16 trophies from 1959-60 to 1997-98. Their latest title came after 27 years in 2024-25 after managing a 121-run lead in the first innings.
Mumbai’s Irani Cup Title Wins by Season:
1959-60, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1965-66 (shared), 1967-68, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1972-73, 1975-76, 1976-77, 1981-82, 1985-86, 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98 and 2024-25.
Karnataka: 6
Karnataka became the third team to win the Irani Cup in 1974-75 as they secured a first-innings lead against Rest of India.
Since then, they have added five more titles, with their most recent victory coming in 2014/15 by 246 runs.
Karnataka’s Irani Cup Title Wins by Season:
1974-75, 1983-84, 1996-97, 1998-99, 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Vidarbha: 3
Vidarbha have been among the best performing teams in domestic cricket in the last decade or so. They have made it to the Irani Cup three times and have won each time.
Their first two titles came in consecutive seasons in 2017/18 and 2018/19, getting first-innings leads both times. Vidarbha’s third win was an outright one, beating Rest of India by 93 runs in 2025/26.
Vidarbha’s Irani Cup Title Wins by Season:
2017-18, 2018-19 and 2025-26.
Delhi: 3 (1 shared)
The 1980s was a period when Delhi challenged Rest of India to some extent. And as a result, they won three trophies, one shared with Rest of India in 1979-80. The next two titles came in 1980-81 and 1989-90.
Delhi’s Irani Cup Title Wins by Season:
1979-80 (shared), 1980-81 and 1989-90.
Railways: 2
In early 2000s, Rest of India were right at the top. But Railways managed to challenge them twice.
Their first win came in 2002-03, defeating Rest of India by five wickets. Then they setup a rather easy victory by nine wickets in 2005-06.
Railways Irani Cup Title Wins by Season:
2002-03 and 2005-06.
Hyderabad: 1
Hyderabad have won the Irani Cup once so far. Their only victory came back in 1987-88 after their first-innings lead.
Hyderabad’s Irani Cup Title Win by Season:
1987-88
Tamil Nadu: 1
The Irani Cup went from one southern state to another in 1988-89. Tamil Nadu secured a three-wicket win to lift their maiden title.
Tamil Nadu’s Irani Cup Title Win by Season:
1988-89
Haryana: 1
Haryana have also claimed the Irani Cup once, back in 1991-92. Led by Kapil Dev, Haryana scripted a six-wicket victory.
Haryana’s Irani Cup Title Win by Season:
1991-92
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