Jammu and Kashmir vs Rest of India, Irani Cup, Irani Cup 2026

Irani Cup 2026-27 Preview: Jammu & Kashmir vs Rest of India

A marquee clash in the BCCI's packed domestic calendar awaits at the picturesque Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, as the Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir take on the Rest of India in the Irani Cup 2026-27. The four-day contest kicks off on October 1, 2026, with play beginning at 09:30 AM IST (04:00 AM GMT), and runs through October 5.

Match Overview

The Irani Cup is played annually between the current Ranji Trophy winners and a Rest of India squad assembled from top players across other state teams. This season, Jammu & Kashmir qualify as the reigning champions, having won their maiden Ranji Trophy title.

Rest of India: A Squad Full of National Ambitions

Led by Rishabh Pant, the Rest of India side carries the weight of a squad that many of its players are using as a platform to stake claims for India's upcoming New Zealand Test tour in mid-November. Pant, now a Test-only player after being overlooked in whiteball formats, will be looking to stay in groove with game time ahead of the series.

The visit of at least two national selectors adds extra importance to the fixture, with several bowlers hoping to force their way into the New Zealand-bound squad:

• Akash Deep – The talented pacer, who has been sidelined for seven months with a lower-back stress fracture, will aim to prove his fitness and regain bowling rhythm. He is in contention to become the fifth pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Gurnoor Brar — subject to fitness clearance.
• Manav Suthar – The new spin sensation is hoping to bag the third spinner's spot in the Test squad.
• Sarfaraz Khan – The vice-captain and local favourite (son-in-law of the region) will want a powerpacked performance to keep himself in the mix for India A's shadow tour of New Zealand.
• Sanat Sangwan, Ayush Doseja, Anukul Roy, and Saransh Jain – For many in this squad, the Irani Cup serves as a trial to make the India A squad rather than the settled senior side.

Rest of India Squad

Rishabh Pant (C, WK) | Sanat Sangwan | Shikhar Mohan | Sudip Gharami | Sarfaraz Khan (VC) | Smaran Ravichandran | Manav Suthar | Saransh Jain | Akash Deep* | Mukesh Kumar | Mukesh Choudhary | Aryan Juyal (WK) | Aryan Pandey | Anukul Roy | Ayush Doseja

*Subject to fitness clearance

Jammu & Kashmir: The Champions Playing for the Love of the Game

For Jammu & Kashmir, the Irani Cup represents an opportunity to showcase talent beyond their star bowler. The side will be missing their primary bowler Auqib Nabi, who is currently on national duty.

Nabi, the Baramulla fast bowler who finished the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season as its highest wicket-taker, recently sealed a massive Rs 8.40 crore deal with Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026 auction. Though focused on his IPL preparations, his absence is a significant blow to J&K's bowling attack.

Skipper Paras Dogra, in his 25th first-class season, will be more concerned with playing for the love of the game than any selection pressure.

Jammu & Kashmir Squad

Paras Dogra (C) | Qamran Iqbal | Shubham Khajuria | Yawer Hassan | Shubham Pundir | Kanhaiya Wadhawan (WK) | Abid Mushtaq | Kawalpreet Singh | Sunil Kumar | Umar Nazir | Sahil Lotra | Vanshaj Sharma | Nasir Lone | Rohit Sharma

The Bigger Picture

The Irani Cup, once a coveted trial for India's national team hopefuls, has gradually lost its prestige in the BCCI's crowded calendar. With one senior side engaged in T20 cricket at the Asian Games in Japan and another in an ODI series against the West Indies, this fixture now serves primarily as a preparatory platform for fringe players.

Where to Watch

The match will be livestreamed on the JioHotstar app, with Star Sports handling television broadcast. Fans can follow live scores and ball-by-ball commentary across dedicated cricket apps and websites.

With free entry for the general public and Srinagar not having hosted a BCCI match of this stature in a long time, a raucous home crowd is expected to back the Ranji Trophy champions as they look to defend their pride on home soil.