In a Sunday thriller at Srinagar, Rest of India ran away with the 2026‑27 Irani Cup, beating Jammu & Kashmir by 167 runs.
The hosts chased 279 but collapsed to 111 all out after Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep delivered a lethal spell. Akash smashed the first wicket of the innings with a lbw to Qamran Iqbal after lunch, then Mukesh followed up with a pair of quick wickets to Pundir and captain Paras Dogra. The J&K top‑order went from 89/3 at lunch to 111 in just nine overs, with the lower order piling on 22 runs for six wickets.
RoI survived a 41‑run first‑innings deficit to post 237, then pushed on to 319, thanks to Ravichandran Smaran’s 68 and 135. Mukesh’s 6/33 and Akash’s 3/25 were the main weapons, while J&K’s bowlers—Umar Nazir, Sunil Kumar and Sahil Lotra—each took three wickets in the final chase.
With RoI’s triumph, the domestic calendar wraps up on a high note, and the spotlight is now on Akash Deep’s return; selectors are watching him closely ahead of the India tour of New Zealand. Meanwhile, J&K will regroup after a disappointing collapse, their hopes of lifting the trophy dashed.