Story perspectives

Rest of India win Irani Cup, beat Jammu & Kashmir

By Drooid · Oct 5, 2026, 4:14 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Rest of India Wins

Rest of India defeated Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs to claim the Irani Cup.
The match was played at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, the Valley’s first Irani Cup in 40 years.
Ravichandran Smaran scored 68 in the first innings and an unbeaten 126 in the second, steering the chase.
Mukesh Kumar took six wickets for 33 runs, his 11th first-class five-wicket haul.

Summary

Gambhir Pushes Selections

Head coach Gautam Gambhir urges Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep’s inclusion in the New Zealand Test squad.
Selection panel chaired by Pragyan Ojha will meet next week to finalize a 16- or 17-player squad.
Ajit Agarkar’s chief selector term ended Sunday, leaving an interim arrangement while BCCI seeks a permanent replacement.
Prasidh Krishna’s hamstring injury, reported October 1, is deemed non-serious, keeping him in tour contention.

History

Historical Context

India’s 1983 Cricket World Cup triumph, sealed by Kapil Dev’s 175-run partnership and a 43,000-strong crowd at Lord’s, reshaped national cricket ambition. The BCCI expanded domestic fixtures, staging the Irani Cup in Srinagar in 1983, which drew about 12,000 fans to watch the match. Today's Rest of India win over Jammu & Kashmir at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium mirrors that 1983 showcase, with Ravichandran Sarkar’s 126* and Mukesh Kumar’s six-for-33. Consequently, BCCI selectors Gautam Gambhir and interim chief Ajit Agarkar now weigh domestic form to shape New Zealand Test squads, echoing the 1983 merit-based rise.

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Rest of India Wins

Rest of India defeated Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs to claim the Irani Cup.
The match was played at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, the Valley’s first Irani Cup in 40 years.
Ravichandran Smaran scored 68 in the first innings and an unbeaten 126 in the second, steering the chase.
Mukesh Kumar took six wickets for 33 runs, his 11th first-class five-wicket haul.

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