Rishabh Pant to Lead Rest of India Against Ranji Champions in Irani Cup

Rishabh Pant will lead the Rest of India side in the upcoming Irani Cup against 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir, giving the India wicketkeeper-batter a return to domestic red-ball cricket.

The BCCI's senior men's selection committee announced a 15-member Rest of India squad on September 16. Sarfaraz Khan has been named Pant's deputy, while Bengal pacer Akash Deep has been included subject to fitness clearance.

Pant Gets Leadership Responsibility

Pant will captain a Rest of India team containing a mixture of established India-level players and leading performers from the previous domestic season.

The appointment comes after Pant was not included in India's ODI squad for the upcoming home series against the West Indies. His next competitive assignment will therefore come in the Irani Cup, where he will take charge of a side selected from players outside the Ranji Trophy champions.

Sarfaraz Khan Named Vice-Captain

Sarfaraz Khan has been appointed vice-captain of the Rest of India team. The batter has extensive first-class experience and has also represented India in Test cricket.

His presence gives the squad another experienced player alongside Pant as Rest of India prepare for the five-day contest.

Jammu & Kashmir Enter as Ranji Champions

Jammu & Kashmir earned their place in the Irani Cup after winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season.

The championship success secured them a meeting with Rest of India in the traditional domestic season-opening fixture. It will also be a particularly significant occasion for J&K cricket as the team prepares to host the match in Srinagar.

Irani Cup Returns to Srinagar

The five-day match is scheduled to take place at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar from October 1 to October 5.

The fixture will give local supporters an opportunity to watch a number of established Indian players and leading domestic performers in a major first-class contest.

Akash Deep Included Subject to Fitness

Fast bowler Akash Deep has been selected for the Rest of India squad, but his participation depends on clearing a fitness assessment.

The Bengal pacer has been out of action because of a lower-back stress injury. His last competitive appearance came against Jammu & Kashmir in February 2026, making the Irani Cup a potential return to first-class cricket if he receives medical clearance.

Strong Pace-Bowling Group

Rest of India's pace department also includes Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary and Aryan Pandey.

Mukesh Kumar arrives after being part of East Zone's successful Duleep Trophy campaign, adding recent first-class match experience to the bowling unit.

Manav Suthar Returns to Domestic Action

Manav Suthar has also been included in the squad after recently featuring for India in the Test series against Sri Lanka.

The left-arm spinner will be joined in the spin department by Saransh Jain and Anukul Roy, giving Rest of India several options depending on the conditions in Srinagar.

Saransh Jain Part of the Squad

Saransh Jain is another player coming into the Irani Cup after gaining international exposure. He recently featured in India's Test series in Sri Lanka.

The Irani Cup will provide him with another opportunity to bowl long spells and contribute in a traditional first-class environment.

Top Ranji Run-Scorers Included

The squad also rewards several of the leading performers from the previous Ranji Trophy season. Smaran Ravichandran and Ayush Doseja finished among the competition's leading run-scorers and have been selected for Rest of India.

Smaran scored 950 runs during the season, while Doseja accumulated 949, according to India Today. Sanat Sangwan and Sudip Gharami also feature among the batting options.

A Chance for Domestic Performers

The Rest of India squad therefore contains more than just players with international experience. Several selections recognise performances from the domestic season and give emerging players an opportunity to share a dressing room with established names.

The combination should make the Irani Cup an important first-class examination for players looking to strengthen their credentials.

Aryan Juyal Provides Wicketkeeping Cover

Pant is the primary wicketkeeper in the squad, while Aryan Juyal has also been selected as another wicketkeeping option.

The presence of a second wicketkeeper provides the team with flexibility while allowing Pant to focus on his leadership and batting responsibilities.

Rest of India Squad Announced

The 15-member squad consists of Rishabh Pant, Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Gharami, Sarfaraz Khan, Smaran Ravichandran, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Aryan Juyal, Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy and Ayush Doseja.

Akash Deep's selection carries the fitness qualification, meaning his final participation will depend on the medical assessment.

Pant's Domestic Red-Ball Return

The Irani Cup will provide Pant with an opportunity to play a longer-format match before India's next major Test assignments.

For a wicketkeeper-batter, a five-day domestic game also offers valuable time behind the stumps and an opportunity to build a substantial innings in red-ball conditions.

J&K's Historic Season Continues

For Jammu & Kashmir, the Irani Cup represents another major chapter following their first Ranji Trophy championship.

The team will now face a Rest of India squad featuring several players with India and first-class experience, creating another high-profile test of their championship-winning group.

Auqib Nabi's Rise Adds Interest

Jammu & Kashmir's title-winning campaign also helped bring pacer Auqib Nabi into the national selection picture. Nabi was among the key performers during the Ranji Trophy season and subsequently received an India ODI call-up.

His performances will be closely watched as J&K's players prepare for the Irani Cup challenge.

Five-Day Contest Begins October 1

The Irani Cup match is scheduled from October 1 to October 5 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar.

Unlike India's white-ball schedule around the same period, the Irani Cup will provide a full first-class environment, with both sides having the opportunity to bat and bowl for extended periods.

Important Match for India's Domestic Calendar

The Irani Cup remains one of India's prominent domestic first-class fixtures, bringing together the previous Ranji Trophy champions and a Rest of India side selected from players across the domestic system.

This year's match has additional interest because of Pant's captaincy, Sarfaraz's leadership role and the potential return of Akash Deep.

Focus Turns to Srinagar

With the squads now announced, attention will turn toward preparations for the five-day contest. Rest of India will have a strong mix of experience and emerging domestic talent, while Jammu & Kashmir will look to continue the momentum generated by their historic Ranji Trophy campaign.

Pant's leadership will be one of the central talking points when the two sides meet at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.

Irani Cup Set for an Interesting Contest

The October fixture brings together a Rest of India side led by Pant and the first-time Ranji Trophy champions from Jammu & Kashmir.

With several recent India players, leading domestic run-scorers and returning pacers included, the match promises a substantial first-class test for both teams as the new domestic season progresses.