Mukesh Kumar's 6/33 Gives Rest Of India Irani Cup Win Over Ranji Champions J&K By 167 Runs

Published: October 4, 2026, 6:06 PM IST | Updated: October 4, 2026, 8:27 PM IST
Written by Akash Saha | Edited and fact-checked by Amit Saha | Editorial policy

Rest of India won the Irani Cup on Sunday, October 4, 2026, beating reigning Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs on the fourth day at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. Set 279 to win, J&K were bowled out for 111 in 28.4 overs as fast bowler Mukesh Kumar returned 6 for 33.

J&K needed only a draw

The hosts went into the final day in a strong position. Under the Irani Cup rules, a drawn match would have handed the trophy to the side with the first-innings lead, and J&K had one: their 278 in reply to Rest of India’s 237 gave them a cushion of 41 runs. In that first innings, J&K’s attack shared the work, with Umar Nazir, Sunil Kumar and Sahil Lotra taking three wickets apiece.

Rest of India turned the match around in their second innings, posting 319. The backbone of that effort was Karnataka batter Smaran Ravichandran, who followed his first-innings 68 with a commanding 135, leaving J&K a target of 279 and the choice between chasing it and batting out the day.

Mukesh Kumar’s burst after lunch

J&K’s openers made a steady start, and Shubham Khajuria (36) and Qamran Iqbal (32) briefly held up Rest of India. The game changed quickly after lunch. Once Khajuria fell, the middle and lower order folded against the seam of Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep, and the innings that had looked capable of holding out for a draw was over inside 29 overs.

Mukesh finished with six wickets for 33 runs, while Akash Deep picked up 3 for 25 to end the match with six wickets. Between them, the two pacers claimed nine of the ten J&K wickets in the final innings. Rest of India captain Rishabh Pant did not take the field on the last day because of illness.

Key numbers

Result: Rest of India won by 167 runs
Rest of India: 237 and 319
Jammu and Kashmir: 278 and 111 (28.4 overs)
Smaran Ravichandran: 68 and 135
Mukesh Kumar: 6/33 in the fourth innings
Akash Deep: 3/25 in the fourth innings, six wickets in the match

What it means

The Irani Cup traditionally opens the Indian domestic first-class season by pitting the Ranji Trophy champions against a Rest of India side drawn from across the country. For J&K, led by Paras Dogra, the defeat denies them a Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup double. For Rest of India, the win offers a timely reminder of the depth in Indian red-ball cricket, with an India-capped seam pair doing the damage and a young batter making the biggest contribution with the bat.

The Ranji Trophy season follows next. For more on what domestic players earn, read our guide to Ranji Trophy player salaries and match fees, and follow all our domestic cricket coverage.