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The 2026 Irani Cup will bring together two sides with contrasting journeys as defending Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir take on Rest of India at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar from October 1 to 5. J&K will make their maiden appearance in the prestigious fixture after winning their first Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season, while Rest of India will be led by Rishabh Pant, with Sarfaraz Khan serving as his deputy.
The five-day contest promises several fascinating individual matchups. Rest of India’s squad contains several leading performers from the previous Ranji Trophy season, including Smaran Ravichandran, Ayush Doseja, Sanat Sangwan and Sudip Kumar Gharami. J&K, meanwhile, will rely on the experience of players such as Paras Dogra, Shubham Khajuria, Abdul Samad and Abid Mushtaq.
Here are 3 player battles to watch out for in Irani Cup 2026:
The contest between J&K opener Shubham Khajuria and Rest of India’s experienced seamer Mukesh Kumar could set the tone for the match.
Khajuria has been a key figure in J&K’s batting unit and is expected to shoulder considerable responsibility at the top of the order. With the hosts playing at their home ground, he will be tasked with providing a solid foundation against a Rest of India bowling attack featuring several experienced domestic performers.
Mukesh Kumar, meanwhile, offers Rest of India an experienced new-ball option. The Bengal seamer has represented India and has extensive first-class experience, making him an important component of Rishabh Pant’s bowling plans.
The opening spell could therefore be a fascinating examination of Khajuria’s technique and patience. Mukesh is likely to test the opener with a disciplined line outside the off stump and look for movement off the surface. Khajuria’s ability to leave deliveries and punish anything loose could determine whether J&K make a steady start.
If Khajuria gets through the first spell, he could put pressure back on the Rest of India bowlers. If Mukesh finds an early breakthrough, however, the visitors could immediately gain control of the contest.
A particularly interesting middle-order battle could see Rest of India captain Rishabh Pant come up against J&K’s left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq.
Pant is one of the most experienced players in the Rest of India squad and will return to competitive cricket as captain for the Irani Cup. The BCCI confirmed him as the team’s skipper, while Sarfaraz Khan was named vice-captain.
Pant’s aggressive approach makes him a difficult batter to contain once he settles at the crease. However, a five-day game requires a different tempo from T20 cricket, and his battle against spin could become important if J&K manage to make inroads into the Rest of India top order.
Abid Mushtaq is one of J&K’s principal spin options and was part of the side’s title-winning campaign. His left-arm orthodox style can allow him to attack right-handed batters from around the wicket while also maintaining pressure through long spells.
Pant could look to disrupt Mushtaq’s rhythm by using his feet and finding scoring options around the ground. The spinner’s challenge will be to maintain his lengths and avoid giving Pant deliveries that can be attacked.
This battle could become particularly significant during the second innings, when the pitch has had more time to wear and spin could come into play.
Another intriguing contest could involve Rest of India’s prolific batter Smaran Ravichandran and J&K spinner Abid Mushtaq.
Smaran enjoyed an outstanding 2025-26 Ranji Trophy campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 950 runs. He has subsequently been rewarded with a place in the Rest of India squad.
The Karnataka batter’s ability to construct long first-class innings makes him one of the key players in Rest of India’s batting lineup. If he survives the early movement offered by J&K’s seamers, he could spend considerable time at the crease.
That is where Mushtaq’s role becomes crucial. J&K will need their spin attack to create breakthroughs once the ball becomes older, and Smaran could be one of the major wickets they target.
The left-arm spinner will need to vary his pace and flight without allowing Smaran easy opportunities to rotate the strike. Smaran, meanwhile, could attempt to neutralise the threat by using his feet or playing late against the spin.
A long battle between the two could have implications beyond one wicket. If Smaran controls the middle overs, Rest of India could build a sizeable first-innings total. If Mushtaq gets the better of him, J&K could make an important breakthrough against one of the competition’s leading domestic batters.
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