Rishabh Pant Leads Rest of India in Irani Cup Clash Against Jammu & Kashmir
Rishabh Pant has been left out of India’s ODI squad for the West Indies tour, but his next assignment will be anything but low-key. He will walk out in Srinagar as captain of Rest of India, leading a heavyweight side into the Irani Cup clash against newly crowned Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir.
It is a statement call. If the selectors closed one door, they have handed Pant the keys to another – a marquee red-ball fixture that has often doubled as a proving ground for players on the fringes of the national setup.
Pant at the helm, Sarfaraz in support
Pant will not be short of batting muscle or leadership support. Sarfaraz Khan, fresh from a prolific domestic run and growing international experience, has been named vice-captain. The two form the core of a batting unit that blends consistency with hunger.
Alongside them, Rest of India have picked some of the most reliable run-makers from the previous Ranji season. R Smaran and Ayush Doseja, the top two scorers in that campaign, both find a place in the squad, underlining the traditional purpose of this fixture: reward form, not reputation.
Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan and Sudip Gharami add further depth and variety to the top and middle order, giving Pant a lineup capable of batting long and batting hard.
Akash Deep’s comeback trail
One of the more intriguing names is Akash Deep. The seamer has been out for an extended stretch with a lower-back stress injury, and his inclusion comes with the familiar caveat: subject to fitness. The twist is in the detail – his last competitive outing was also against Jammu & Kashmir, in a Ranji Trophy match back in February 2026.
If he is passed fit, his return adds bite to a pace attack already stocked with proven domestic operators. Mukesh Kumar and Mukesh Choudhary bring contrasting skills with the new ball, while Aryan Pandey offers another seam option to keep the pressure on across long spells.
Spin strength and recent Test touch
The spin department carries a quiet edge. Anukul Roy’s all-round utility is well known in domestic circles, but the spotlight will likely fall on Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain. Both were part of India’s recent Test series against Sri Lanka, and both now drop back into the domestic grind with fresh international exposure in their armoury.
That experience, combined with the conditions expected at the Sher-i-Kashmir stadium, could tilt long sessions in Rest of India’s favour if the surface starts to wear.
Aryan Juyal joins Pant as the second wicketkeeping option, giving the management flexibility with combinations and workload over five days.
A stage set in Srinagar
The Irani Cup has often mirrored the health of India’s first-class ecosystem. This edition carries an added layer of intrigue. Jammu & Kashmir, riding the high of their Ranji Trophy triumph, host Rest of India from October 1-5 at the Sher-i-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar – a setting loaded with both symbolism and opportunity.
For J&K, it is a chance to prove their title was no one-season surge. For Pant and his men, it is a sharp, uncompromising examination of temperament and technique at a time when every performance nudges the national conversation.
One thing is certain: when Pant strides out in Srinagar, this will not feel like a consolation assignment. It will feel like a statement game.
