Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep Spark J&K Collapse as Rest of India Lift Irani Cup

Rest of India produced a dramatic fourth-day bowling performance to defeat Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs and lift the 2026-27 Irani Cup at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar.

Jammu & Kashmir, the reigning Ranji Trophy champions, had appeared capable of surviving the chase after reaching 89/3. However, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep tore through the batting order after lunch, reducing the hosts to 111 all out in just 28.4 overs.

Mukesh finished with outstanding figures of 6/33, while Akash Deep returned 3/25 in his comeback match. The pair shared nine wickets and turned a potentially tense finish into a comprehensive Rest of India victory.

J&K Needed Only a Draw

The target of 279 appeared challenging, but Jammu & Kashmir entered the final day with a major advantage. They had taken a 41-run first-innings lead and therefore needed only to draw the match to claim the Irani Cup.

That equation made the opening phase of the chase particularly important. J&K needed to avoid losing wickets in clusters and force Rest of India's bowlers to work for every breakthrough.

For a while, the hosts looked capable of doing exactly that.

J&K Make a Solid Start

Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal gave Jammu & Kashmir a strong beginning, putting together a 54-run opening partnership.

Both batters played positively and ensured that the asking rate did not become an immediate concern. But Akash Deep eventually broke the partnership by trapping Iqbal in front of the stumps.

The breakthrough opened the door for Rest of India, and Mukesh Kumar soon began exploiting it.

Mukesh Kumar Strikes Twice

Mukesh removed Shubham Pundir and then dismissed J&K captain Paras Dogra in the same over, dramatically changing the complexion of the chase.

Dogra's dismissal was particularly significant because it left the home side without its experienced captain while the pressure on the middle order increased.

Despite those setbacks, Khajuria and Abdul Samad managed to take J&K to lunch at 89/3. At that stage, the hosts still had a realistic opportunity to survive the contest.

Akash Deep Delivers the Turning Point

The first ball after lunch changed everything. Akash Deep dismissed Khajuria, who had made 36, and the wicket triggered a spectacular collapse.

Jammu & Kashmir lost their next six wickets for only 22 runs. The batting order that had looked reasonably secure before lunch suddenly had no answer to the accuracy and movement generated by the Rest of India seamers.

Akash's comeback became increasingly impressive as he continued to trouble the batters after returning to competitive cricket following a lengthy injury absence.

Mukesh Completes a Six-Wicket Haul

Mukesh Kumar finished the innings in style. He removed Kanhaiya Wadhawan before returning to dismiss Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir Mir and Sunil Kumar.

His final figures of 6/33 represented his 11th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. More importantly, his spell destroyed J&K's hopes of holding out for the draw they needed.

Mukesh's final three wickets came in the same over, completing a remarkable collapse and bringing the match to an abrupt conclusion.

Akash Deep Makes Strong Comeback

Akash Deep's performance was another major positive for Rest of India. The Bengal fast bowler had been out of competitive action because of a lower-back stress injury, making the Irani Cup his return to match cricket.

He finished with 3/25 and took six wickets across the match. His ability to sustain his intensity over a long first-class contest provided an encouraging performance ahead of India's upcoming international commitments.

His spell also demonstrated why he remains part of India's wider Test bowling plans when fit and available.

Smaran Ravichandran Sets Up the Victory

The bowlers completed the job, but Rest of India's victory had been set up by Smaran Ravichandran.

After scoring 68 in the first innings, Smaran produced a superb 135 in the second. His century came at a critical stage after Rest of India had been reduced to difficult positions in both innings.

Rest of India resumed the final day on 306/8 and eventually finished their second innings at 319. Smaran was the final wicket to fall, bowled by Sunil Kumar.

Rest of India Recover From a First-Innings Deficit

The match had initially tilted in J&K's favour. Rest of India were dismissed for 237 in their first innings, while Jammu & Kashmir responded with 278 to secure a 41-run advantage.

That lead meant J&K were in control of the trophy equation. But Rest of India's second-innings batting effort completely changed the situation.

Smaran's 135 and a valuable contribution from the lower order allowed Rest of India to establish a target that placed pressure back on the Ranji champions.

Mukesh Choudhary Provides Crucial Support

Mukesh Choudhary also played an important role with the bat. He joined Smaran during the second-innings recovery and helped build a crucial ninth-wicket partnership.

The pair added 113 runs, taking Rest of India from 197/8 to 310 before Choudhary was dismissed. That partnership proved extremely valuable because every additional run increased the pressure on J&K's batters in the fourth innings.

What initially appeared to be a modest advantage eventually became an insurmountable target after the Rest of India seamers found their rhythm.

Pant Leads Rest of India to the Trophy

Rishabh Pant captained Rest of India in the Irani Cup and guided the side through a difficult contest against the reigning Ranji Trophy champions.

Pant was unable to take the field on the final day after developing a fever, but his team completed the job in emphatic fashion.

The victory gave Pant a memorable result as captain, with his side overcoming a first-innings deficit to win one of India's most prestigious domestic red-ball fixtures.

Jammu & Kashmir's Historic Season Ends in Defeat

Jammu & Kashmir entered the match as the reigning Ranji Trophy champions after winning their maiden title in the 2025-26 season.

Their first-innings performance showed why they had been able to dominate domestic cricket, but the dramatic second-innings collapse prevented them from adding the Irani Cup to their trophy cabinet.

The defeat was particularly painful because they had reduced Rest of India to 197/8 in the second innings and still held a 41-run first-innings advantage.

Rest of India Claim Another Irani Cup

The 167-run victory secured another Irani Cup triumph for Rest of India and underlined the depth of India's domestic cricket system.

The result was ultimately decided by the contrast between the two teams' final innings. J&K had the opportunity to bat for time, but Rest of India's fast bowlers repeatedly attacked the stumps and refused to allow the hosts to settle.

A Statement From India's Pace Depth

Mukesh Kumar's six-wicket haul and Akash Deep's three wickets provided a strong reminder of the quality available behind India's established international pace options.

For Akash in particular, the comeback performance offered valuable match practice after his injury absence. Mukesh's consistency meanwhile strengthened his case as a bowler capable of producing long spells and sustained pressure in first-class cricket.

Rest of India's triumph was therefore not just a trophy victory but also an important showcase of domestic red-ball talent.