Faiz Fazal was an elated captain as Vidarbha reasserted their supremacy in the domestic arena by beating a star-studded Rest of India side to retain the Irani Cup.

Although Vidarbha couldn't chase down the stiff target of 280 runs, the Ranji champions clinched their second first-class title for the season on the basis of a first-innings lead at VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

By virtue of his triumph, Vidarbha also became the third team after Mumbai and Karnataka to clinch two Irani Cup titles in a row.

"The boys have really been playing great throughout the season. It has been a thorough performance from everyone in the team and the entire VCA," Fazal said after the win.

He was very satisfied by the fact that Vidarbha won the title despite missing big names such as Wasim Jaffer and Umesh Yadav.

"That shows that we have some character and the way the guys came to the big occasion and performed so well was excellent. I think that belief will also help us in future when Wasim bhai will not be there, Umesh will on national duty, so that belief will be very important for each one of us," he added.

In a touching gesture, Fazal also announced that the Vidarbha players would like to donate their entire prize money to the families of the CRPF personnel martyred in the dastardly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14.

"We as a team have decided to donate the prize money to the family of the martyrs who lost their lives in Pulwama. This is a small gesture from our team and VCA," he asserted.

Rest of India captain, Ajinkya Rahane, also hailed Faiz Fazal and company, saying that all the other domestic teams should learn from Vidarbha and follow their path.

"I would like to congratulate the Vidarbha team. It is not easy to win back to back Ranji Trophy and back to back Irani trophy," said Rahane at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"I think all the teams should learn from them, every domestic team should learn from them, their consistency throughout the year, this year again they played so well."

Rahane also rued the first innings collapse when Rest of India lost their last few wickets for not many to be bowled out for 330.

"We had our chances, first innings I thought we started really well but losing eight wickets for 100-odd runs was disappointing. You have got to grind it out and be patient. But we have to be patient and learn from our mistakes," he said.

"In the first innings, we should have avoided such a batting collapse. This wicket was 400-450 wicket and that was the difference," Rahane concluded.