Mukesh Kumar and Smaran steer Rest of India to 167-run Irani Cup win over Jammu and Kashmir

Rest of India defeated Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs in Srinagar on Sunday to claim the 2026-27 Irani Cup. Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep combined to bowl out Jammu and Kashmir for 111 as the hosts collapsed in the chase.

Rest of India posted scores of 237 and 319, while Jammu and Kashmir made 278 and 111 in the match. Chasing 279 for victory, Jammu and Kashmir had required only a draw to win the trophy after taking a 41-run first-innings lead. Rest of India had been under pressure earlier in the game after their first-innings total of 237, with Jammu and Kashmir replying with 278.

Jammu and Kashmir began their fourth-innings chase positively, Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal putting on 54 for the opening wicket. Iqbal, who had scored a century in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final, played aggressively before Akash Deep ended the partnership by trapping him lbw. Mukesh Kumar then struck twice in the 15th over, dismissing Shubham Pundir lbw and bowling captain Paras Dogra to leave the hosts 65 for 3.

The visitors were 89 for 3 at lunch with Khajuria and Abdul Samad at the crease, but the match turned immediately after the interval. Khajuria fell to Akash Deep with the first ball after lunch and the innings unraveled as Mukesh removed Kanhaiya Wadhawan, then Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir and Sunil Kumar. Mukesh completed his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and finished with figures of 6 for 33, while Akash Deep took 3 for 25; Sahil Lotra was also dismissed by Akash Deep and Jammu and Kashmir were all out in 28.4 overs.

Rest of India had resumed the day at 306 for 8 and were bowled out for 319 in their second innings. Smaran, who had made 68 in the first innings, top-scored with 135 in the second innings. He and Mukesh Choudhary added 113 for the ninth wicket to lift Rest of India from 197 for 8 to 310 before Choudhary was dismissed, and Smaran was last out, bowled by Sunil Kumar.

Smaran’s second-innings century provided the defending champions with a target that Jammu and Kashmir could not reach. The victory secured Rest of India’s 31st Irani Cup title, including one shared, and was their third Irani Cup triumph in the last five seasons.