5 October 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Rest of India produced a sensational bowling performance to defeat Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs and lift the 2026-27 Irani Cup in Srinagar on Sunday. Pacers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep combined to dismantle the Ranji Trophy champions’ batting lineup, turning a competitive contest into a comprehensive victory.
Chasing 279 for victory, Jammu and Kashmir appeared to be in a strong position during the first half of their fourth-innings chase. The hosts reached 89 for three at lunch after building a 54-run opening partnership. However, the match changed dramatically after the interval as J&K lost their final seven wickets for just 22 runs and were bowled out for 111 in 28.4 overs.
Mukesh Kumar was the chief destroyer, finishing with outstanding figures of 6 for 33. Akash Deep supported him with 3 for 25, meaning the two fast bowlers accounted for nine of Jammu and Kashmir’s 10 wickets to fall to bowlers. Their spells ensured that Rest of India’s sizeable target became more than enough to secure the trophy.
The collapse began with Akash Deep breaking the opening partnership. Qamran Iqbal and Shubham Khajuria had put together 54 runs and given J&K a promising start. Akash trapped Iqbal lbw, opening the door for Rest of India to attack the middle order.
Mukesh then delivered a crucial double blow before lunch. He dismissed Shubham Pundir and Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra in the same over, reducing the hosts to 65 for three. Despite those setbacks, Khajuria and Abdul Samad helped J&K reach lunch at 89 for three, keeping their hopes of saving the match alive.
The first ball after lunch proved decisive. Akash Deep dismissed Khajuria, who had scored 36, and the wicket triggered a rapid collapse. Jammu and Kashmir struggled to cope with the movement and accuracy of the Rest of India seamers, losing six wickets for only 22 runs in nine overs.
Mukesh completed his six-wicket haul by removing Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir Mir and Sunil Kumar in the same over. His performance gave him his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and completed a memorable comeback in the match.
Akash Deep also made a strong return to competitive cricket. The pacer had been out of action with an injury, and his six wickets across the match will provide encouragement ahead of India’s upcoming Test assignments. His ability to bowl long spells and generate breakthroughs was one of the key factors behind Rest of India’s success.
The victory was set up by a determined batting effort from Ravichandran Smaran. Rest of India had been under pressure after being bowled out for 237 in their first innings, while Jammu and Kashmir responded with 278 to secure a 41-run lead. That advantage meant J&K needed only a draw to win the Irani Cup.
Smaran, however, changed the course of the match with an outstanding second-innings century. He scored 135 and played a crucial role in rescuing Rest of India after they slipped to 197 for eight. His innings, combined with a valuable ninth-wicket partnership with Mukesh Choudhary, helped Rest of India build a 278-run target.
Rest of India resumed the fourth day on 306 for eight and were eventually bowled out for 319. Smaran was the last wicket to fall, having scored 135 from 153 balls, including 16 fours and five sixes.
The 167-run victory gave Rest of India their 31st Irani Cup title, including one shared triumph. It was also their third title in the last five seasons and marked another strong performance by the representative side in India’s premier domestic red-ball fixture.
For Jammu and Kashmir, the defeat ended what had been a remarkable domestic season. The team had won its maiden Ranji Trophy title and entered the Irani Cup as champions with an opportunity to complete a memorable double. Their 41-run first-innings lead put them in a commanding position, but the dramatic fourth-innings collapse denied them the trophy.
The result also highlighted the importance of experience and bowling depth in first-class cricket. J&K’s opening partnership had provided a solid foundation, but once Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar found their rhythm, the batting lineup could not withstand the pressure.
Rest of India’s victory in Srinagar was therefore built on two contrasting performances: Smaran’s patient and aggressive batting rescue and the devastating pace bowling of Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep. Together, they transformed a match that had been leaning toward Jammu and Kashmir into a convincing Irani Cup triumph.