Rest of India clinched the Irani Cup, defeating Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs at Sher‑i‑Kashmir Stadium.
After conceding a 41‑run first‑innings lead, the Rest of India bowled out J&K for 111 in a chase of 279, sealing the win with a dominant 167‑run margin. Mukesh Kumar’s 6‑33 dismantled the opposition, and young batter Ravichandran Smaran’s 68/135 turned the tide.
The shift came when the bowlers tightened their lines, switching to fuller deliveries in the second innings—a tactic Pant praised for correcting the earlier over‑back‑of‑the‑length error. Sarfaraz Khan stepped in as on‑field captain, keeping the team focused.
Pant, sidelined by fever, watched from the sidelines as teammates sang Happy Birthday and he cut the cake, declaring, “Thanks for the gift.” The celebrations were a fitting back‑up to the historic win.
With the trophy in hand, the Rest of India squad will gear up for the next phase of the domestic calendar and look to build on this momentum.