From 89/3 to 111 all out: Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep trigger J&K collapse as Rest of India win Irani Cup

Indian pacers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep shared nine wickets as Rest of India beat reigning Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs on day four to win the 2026-27 Irani Cup in Srinagar on Sunday.Mukesh returned figures of 6/33 to claim his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and dismantle the Jammu and Kashmir batting line-up. Akash, playing his comeback game, supported his Bengal teammate with 3/25 as J&K, chasing 279, were bowled out for 111.The bowling effort capped off the win with Ravichandran Smaran scoring 68 in the first innings and 135 in the second. Smaran helped the rest of India recover from difficult positions in both innings as they went on to win despite conceding a 41-run lead in the first innings.Jammu and Kashmir only needed to hold on for a draw to clinch the trophy as they led in the first innings. They looked to be on course for a favorable result after openers Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal put on 54 runs for the first wicket.Akash broke the partnership by catching Iqbal lbw in front of the wicket. Mukesh then struck twice just before lunch, dismissing Shubham Pundir and skipper Paras Dogra off successive deliveries in the 15th over.Dogra was dropped after the delivery went just far enough to beat his defense and hit the middle stump.J&K went to lunch at 89/3 after 19 overs, with Khajuria on 36 and Abdul Samad on six.Khajuria was dismissed by Akash the first ball after lunch, triggering the collapse. J&K lost their next six wickets for just 22 runs in the next nine overs.Mukesh finished with 6/33 while Akash took 3/25. Akash’s workload in the match, which included six wickets over 23.3 overs, will please the national management ahead of India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, with the pacer now appearing to have recovered enough to be considered for selection.Earlier, Rest of India, who continued their second innings 306/8, were bowled out for 319. Umar Nazir, Sunil Kumar and Sahil Lotra took three wickets for J&K.Short Score: Rest of India: 237 and 319 defeat Jammu and Kashmir: 278 and 111 all out in 28.4 overs (Shubham Khajuria 36; Mukesh Kumar 6/33, Akash Deep 3/25) by 167 runs.