Rest of India Clinch Irani Cup 2026; Smaran Ravichandran, Mukesh Kumar Star in 167-Run Win Over J&K
Rest of India clinched the Irani Cup 2026, defeating Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs at Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium. The five-day match, concluding October 4, 2026, saw Ravichandran Smaran's stellar batting (68 & 135*) and Mukesh Choudhary's dominant 5/78 in the first innings.
Rest of India (RoI) have lifted the coveted Irani Cup 2026, overcoming Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) by a significant margin of 167 runs. The five-day first-class encounter, held at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar from October 1 to 4, 2026, saw a fluctuating battle, ultimately dominated by individual brilliance from the Rest of India squad. Rishabh Pant Birthday Special: Celebrating Dynamic Indian Wicketkeeper's Career As LSG Player Turns 29.
Rest of India Wins Irani Cup 2026
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞. 𝐒𝐞𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 ✌️
Mukesh Kumar wraps things up in fine fashion as Rest of India defeat J&K by 1⃣6⃣7⃣ runs in Srinagar to clinch the #IraniCup 2026 🥳👏
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/imfbVIsPep
@mflone_ https://t.co/Nhi5ezUvND
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 4, 2026
J&K, after winning the toss and electing to field, managed to bowl out Rest of India for 237 in their first innings. However, a resilient batting display from J&K, led by skipper Paras Dogra's 75, Abdul Samad's 57, and Lone Nasir Muzaffar's quickfire 64, saw them take a crucial 41-run first-innings lead, posting 278 all out. RoI's left-arm pacer Mukesh Choudhary was the standout bowler in the first innings, claiming an impressive 5/78.
Smaran Ravichandran's Batting Masterclass
Facing a deficit, Rest of India's second innings was anchored by a magnificent century from Ravichandran Smaran. The 23-year-old Karnataka left-hander, who had scored 68 in the first innings, continued his red-hot form, registering an unbeaten 135 runs. Smaran's innings, coupled with a vital 55 from opener Sanat Sangwan, helped Rest of India post 319 in their second innings, setting Jammu & Kashmir a challenging target of 279 runs for victory. Sri Lanka Announce Squad for Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026; Kusal Mendis Named Captain, Avishka Fernando Recalled.
Rest of India's Pace Attack Seals Victory
Chasing 279, Jammu & Kashmir’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure from Rest of India's pace attack on the final day. Fast bowler Mukesh Kumar played a crucial role in dismantling the J&K order, claiming 2/23 in the second innings. Supported by Akash Deep's aggressive pace, who also took 2 wickets, the attack ensured J&K never found stability, ultimately bowling them out for just 111 in their second innings. Shubham Khajuria was the top-scorer for J&K in their second innings with 36 runs.
Smaran Ravichandran was deservingly named the Player of the Match for his match-winning contributions with the bat. The victory marks a significant achievement for the Rest of India squad, showcasing their depth and talent against the reigning Ranji Trophy champions. India Wins Gold Medal At Asian Games 2026 in Men's Cricket.
Key Match Statistics
| Team | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of India | 237 | 319 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 278 | 111 |
Result: Rest of India won by 167 runs
Standout Performances
- Ravichandran Smaran (RoI): 68 & 135* (Player of the Match)
- Mukesh Kumar (RoI): 2/23 in 2nd innings
- Mukesh Choudhary (RoI): 5/78 in 1st innings
- Paras Dogra (J&K): 75 in 1st innings
- Sunil Kumar (J&K): 3/36 & 3/56
The Irani Cup 2026 fixture also marked a historic return of top-level cricket to Srinagar's Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, an event met with considerable local anticipation and enthusiasm.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2026 02:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
