Iran Cup 2026 | Srinagar cricket ground rewrites history to overtake memories of 1983 India-West Indies fiasco

Rest of India Shikhar Mohan and his teammate during the Irani Cup match against Jammu and Kashmir at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar on Friday | Photo credit: ANI

The roar from the crowd crescendoed and faded amid the mighty chinars surrounding the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar as the first ever match of the Irani Cup 2026 took place and created history on Thursday (October 1, 2026). In 1983, at the same place and in the same month, 21 men stormed the ground during the lunch break and damaged the pitch in an attempt to disrupt India’s match against the West Indies.

With the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) restricting the crowd strength to 5,000 at the stadium, those sitting in the stands are being monitored to ensure history does not repeat itself. The association also screened the guests and invitees in advance and issued limited permission for outside crowds, officials told The Hindu.

With the J&K team dominating the rest of India at pace on the first day of the five-day match, it even bolstered the political will of the ruling National Conference (NC). “It is a good sign that Kashmir is hosting Irani Cup 2026. We are happy that the first ever five-day match is being played in Kashmir,” said Nasir Aslam Wani, NC leader and adviser to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

on October 1983, the same party, the NC, ruled J&K when 21 men, with 12 accused later identified, waited in the wings until lunch was announced and invaded the ground to dig up a pitch, “in an attempt to internationalize the Kashmir issue”. Among the accused were two separatist leaders Shakeel Bakshi and Shabir Ahmad Shah. But the court acquitted them in 2011 “due to lack of evidence”. The locals supported West Indies more than the Indian team. It took 22 years of trial before the case was decided and later the accused was acquitted.

But this time, the political atmosphere, even though there are several security rings, took a complete turn and the crowds whistled, clapped, booed and enjoyed the match.

“We intend to invest in the cricket infrastructure of Kashmir to host IPL matches in the future. We are really in the process. Right now we are focusing on upgrading the infrastructure in the districts and tehsils. We want to hone the skills of the local talent and provide a platform to showcase their skills,” Mr Wani said.

Pointing to pacer Aquib Nabi, who made his Test debut for India last month, Mr Wani said: “Kashmir has cricketing potential. Mr Nabi has already proved it. These kinds of matches will allow our talent to shine not at the local level but at the national level,” Mr Wani said.

With this history-changing Irani Cup in place, BCCI Chairman Mithun Manhas is excited to “bring more matches to Kashmir”. “A match of this level is happening after almost four decades, so it is a matter of great luck. Cricket is back. The board’s efforts will continue and JKCA will have full support of BCCI to organize matches on a bigger scale and also bring international games,” Mr Manhas said.

With wild celebrations in the stands, West Indies’ 28-run victory over India in 1983 may have hampered the government’s will to host more such matches in the Valley, but the Irani Cup has already managed to write a new chapter of history at the same venue.

Published – 02 Oct 2026 03:21 IST