Rest of India rolled up a 167‑run victory over Jammu & Kashmir on Sunday, their 33rd Irani Cup triumph, thanks to Mukesh Kumar’s 6‑for‑33 spell.
The game swung in the 13th over when Mukesh’s delivery clipped Shubham Pundir’s pads for a sharp lbw. The umpire initially called it not out, but Sarfaraz Khan’s review…the ball was ruled out, and Pundir’s 9 runs slid away.
A beat‑down followed: a crisp delivery from Mukesh clipped the top of the stumps and sent Jammu & Kashmir captain Paras Dogra out for a golden duck. Those two wickets turned the tide, halting a 41‑run first‑innings advantage.
Across the innings, Mukesh and Akash Deep shared nine wickets, with the hosts collapsed to 111 in 28.4 overs. While J&K had a 75‑run top scorer in Dogra, the Rest of India bowlers kept the opposition at bay, bowling them out early.
Commentary captured the moment: "Just one more over, Mukesh. Give me one more over and I'll give you two more wickets." Sarfaraz Khan praised the pacer, saying the over was the spark that lit the finish.
With the Irani Cup secured for the first time since the 2023‑24 season, Rest of India now looks ahead to the upcoming Ranji Trophy, where they will face the reigning champions in a high‑stakes showdown.