Rest of India, led by Rishabh Pant, won the 2026-27 Irani Cup in Srinagar on Sunday, beating Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs on the fourth day. Mukesh Kumar produced a devastating spell of 6 for 33 to bowl the hosts out for 111 in pursuit of 279, sealing a comeback victory after his side had conceded a first-innings lead.
The win was set up by Ravichandran Smaran, named player of the match for scores of 68 and 135, who rescued his team from difficult positions in both innings. Rest of India posted 237 and 319, while Jammu and Kashmir made 278 and 111. Sportstar noted it was Rest of India's 31st Irani Cup triumph, including one shared title, and their third in five seasons.
The final-day collapse
Jammu and Kashmir began their chase brightly, with openers Qamran Iqbal and Shubham Khajuria racing to 54 for no loss in ten overs. Akash Deep, playing his comeback game, broke the stand by trapping Iqbal lbw, and Mukesh Kumar then struck twice in quick succession — removing Shubham Pundir and captain Paras Dogra off successive deliveries — as the hosts slipped from 54 for 0 to 65 for 3.
Jammu and Kashmir reached lunch at 89 for 3, but the afternoon session belonged entirely to the Rest of India pacers. Deep had Khajuria caught behind first ball after the interval, and Mukesh wrapped up the tail in a hurry, taking three wickets in a single over — flattening Abid Mushtaq's middle stump, having Umar Nazir caught at extra cover, and ending the game with Sunil Kumar's wicket. The hosts lost their last seven wickets for just 22 runs.
Earlier, resuming on 306 for 8, Rest of India were bowled out for 319 after a 113-run ninth-wicket stand had lifted them from 197 for 8, with Smaran the last man out for 135. Mukesh finished with 6 for 33, his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, while Deep took 3 for 25 at speeds in the early to mid 140s. Jammu and Kashmir had needed only a draw to lift the trophy because of their 41-run first-innings lead.
Sources:
ESPNcricinfo — Mukesh Kumar, Smaran hand Rest of India the Irani Cup (October 4, 2026)
Sportstar — Irani Cup 2026: Mukesh, Akash hunt J&K in tandem, bowl RoI to triumph (October 4, 2026)
The win was set up by Ravichandran Smaran, named player of the match for scores of 68 and 135, who rescued his team from difficult positions in both innings. Rest of India posted 237 and 319, while Jammu and Kashmir made 278 and 111. Sportstar noted it was Rest of India's 31st Irani Cup triumph, including one shared title, and their third in five seasons.
The final-day collapse
Jammu and Kashmir began their chase brightly, with openers Qamran Iqbal and Shubham Khajuria racing to 54 for no loss in ten overs. Akash Deep, playing his comeback game, broke the stand by trapping Iqbal lbw, and Mukesh Kumar then struck twice in quick succession — removing Shubham Pundir and captain Paras Dogra off successive deliveries — as the hosts slipped from 54 for 0 to 65 for 3.
Jammu and Kashmir reached lunch at 89 for 3, but the afternoon session belonged entirely to the Rest of India pacers. Deep had Khajuria caught behind first ball after the interval, and Mukesh wrapped up the tail in a hurry, taking three wickets in a single over — flattening Abid Mushtaq's middle stump, having Umar Nazir caught at extra cover, and ending the game with Sunil Kumar's wicket. The hosts lost their last seven wickets for just 22 runs.
Earlier, resuming on 306 for 8, Rest of India were bowled out for 319 after a 113-run ninth-wicket stand had lifted them from 197 for 8, with Smaran the last man out for 135. Mukesh finished with 6 for 33, his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, while Deep took 3 for 25 at speeds in the early to mid 140s. Jammu and Kashmir had needed only a draw to lift the trophy because of their 41-run first-innings lead.
Sources:
ESPNcricinfo — Mukesh Kumar, Smaran hand Rest of India the Irani Cup (October 4, 2026)
Sportstar — Irani Cup 2026: Mukesh, Akash hunt J&K in tandem, bowl RoI to triumph (October 4, 2026)
