<P> Rest of India cricket team is a First - class cricket team in India . The team was officially instituted in season 1959 - 60 and played its first match on 18 March 1960 against Bombay ( Mumbai ) . The team competes annually against the winner of the Ranji Trophy for Irani Cup , the tournament being forged as to be `` The Best vs Best of the Rest '' . Rest of India has won the tournament 26 times and shared the trophy 1 time with Bombay in season 1965 - 66 . </P>
which team plays the rest of india in the annual irani trophy cricket tournament
the winner of the Ranji Trophy