Mukesh and Smaran shine as Rest of India beat J&K by 167 runs to lift Irani Cup

Brief scores: Rest of India (237 and 319) beat Jammu and Kashmir (278 and 111) by 167 runs to lift the Irani Cup

Rest of India beat Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs to win the 2026-27 Irani Cup in Srinagar on Sunday, with Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep combining to dismiss the reigning Ranji Trophy champions for 111.

Chasing 279 for victory, J&K lost their last seven wickets for 22 runs after lunch as Mukesh returned figures of 6 for 33 and Akash Deep took 3 for 25. The result was their 31st Irani Cup title, including one shared, and their third in the last five seasons.

The target looked difficult for J&K but a draw was enough for them to clinch the trophy after taking a first innings lead of 41 runs. They started well with Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal putting on 54 for the opening wicket.

Iqbal, who scored a century in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final, played positively before Akash Deep broke the partnership. Temper, playing his first match after returning to action, trapped Iqbal lbw.

Mukesh Kumar then struck twice in the 15th over. He dismissed Shubham Pundir lbw followed by the bowling of J&K captain Paras Dogra to reduce the hosts to 65 for 3.

J&K reached lunch at 89 for 3, Khajuria and Abdul Samad at the crease. But Khajuria was dismissed by Akash Deep first ball after lunch and the innings quickly fell apart.

Mukesh Kumar removed Kanhaiya Wadhawan before dismissing Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar as he completed his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Akash Deep also removed Sahil Lotra as J&K were bowled out in 28.4 overs.

Before that, the rest of India resumed the day at 306 for 8 and were bowled out for 319. Smaran, who scored 68 in the first innings, top-scored with 135 in the second innings.

Smaran and Mukesh Choudhary added 113 runs for the ninth wicket to take the rest of India from 197 for 8 to 310 before the latter was dismissed. Smaran was the last wicket taken by Sunil Kumar.

The rest of India were under pressure after being dismissed for 237 in their first innings, with J&K replying with 278. But Smaran’s second-innings hundred gave the defending champions a target they could not survive.

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