Mukesh, Smaran Star as Rest of India Beat J&K by 167 Runs to Lift Irani Cup

Mukesh, Smaran Power Rest of India to Irani Cup Triumph

Rest of India produced a dominant second-innings performance to defeat Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs in Srinagar on Sunday and lift the 2026-27 Irani Cup.

The defending champions completed the job by bowling out the Ranji Trophy holders for just 111 while chasing 279. Mukesh Kumar led the attack with a superb 6 for 33, while Akash Deep chipped in with 3 for 25.

The victory earned Rest of India their 31st Irani Cup title, including one shared triumph, and their third championship in the last five seasons.

Jammu and Kashmir had entered the final day in a favourable position. After taking a 41-run first-innings lead, they needed only a draw to claim the trophy.

Their chase began promisingly.

Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal put together 54 for the opening wicket, with Iqbal looking particularly positive at the crease. The opener, who had scored a century in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final, was eventually trapped lbw by Akash Deep.

Mukesh then turned the contest decisively in Rest of India’s favour.

In the 15th over, he dismissed Shubham Pundir lbw before bowling J&K captain Paras Dogra with the very next breakthrough, leaving the hosts at 65 for 3.

Khajuria and Abdul Samad steadied the innings enough to take J&K to 89 for 3 at lunch.

But whatever hopes the hosts had of completing the chase disappeared almost immediately after the interval.

Akash Deep removed Khajuria with the first delivery after lunch, triggering a dramatic collapse.

Mukesh then ran through the lower order, dismissing Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar to complete his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

Akash Deep added Sahil Lotra to his list of victims as J&K were dismissed for 111 in just 28.4 overs.

The victory was set up by a remarkable second innings from Smaran.

Rest of India had resumed the day at 306 for 8 and eventually finished on 319, with Smaran contributing a crucial 135.

After scoring 68 in the first innings, the batter produced an even more important knock when his team needed it most.

Smaran and Mukesh Choudhary stitched together a vital 113-run partnership for the ninth wicket, lifting Rest of India from 197 for 8 to 310 before Choudhary was dismissed.

Smaran was the last man out, bowled by Sunil Kumar, but his century had already changed the complexion of the match.

Rest of India had initially been put on the back foot after being dismissed for 237 in their first innings. J&K responded with 278, securing a 41-run advantage and putting themselves in control.

But Smaran’s second-innings hundred gave Rest of India a challenging target of 279.

J&K’s strong start raised hopes of completing the chase, but once Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar began striking after lunch, the innings unravelled rapidly.

From 89 for 3 at lunch, J&K lost their final seven wickets for just 22 runs.

Rest of India had not only recovered from a difficult position but had turned the match into a one-sided finish — sealing another Irani Cup title in emphatic fashion.