Big cricketing action returns to Jammu & Kashmir after 4 decades, set to host Irani Cup match

Srinagar is gearing up for a historic sporting event as the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium prepares to stage the 2026 Irani Cup from October 1 to 5, featuring newly crowned Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir against the Rest of India. This marquee clash will be the most significant fixture held in the Kashmir Valley in four decades, marking the return of major domestic cricket to the region for the first time since India hosted Australia in a September 1986 One Day International.

High-profile cricket returns to J&K, Srinagar to host Irani Cup 2026

The marquee fixture traditionally pits the reigning Ranji Trophy champions against a select Rest of India squad. Jammu and Kashmir earned the right to host and compete in this year's edition following a monumental campaign in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy, where they clinched the title against Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground by virtue of a crucial first-innings lead.

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Baramulla-born pace sensation Auqib Nabi Dar is expected to lead Jammu & Kashmir's attack once again in the upcoming Irani Cup. The 29-year-old fast bowler dominated the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season as its top wicket-taker with 60 dismissals, a run capped off by a decisive 5/54 spell against Karnataka in the final. Fresh off his maiden call-up to the national Test squad for the Sri Lanka series, Dar will share pace duties with IPL star Yudhvir Singh Charak of the Rajasthan Royals, giving J&K a formidable fast-bowling tandem.

Despite the anticipation building around the matchup, official confirmation of the venue and the Rest of India roster remains pending from the BCCI. Whichever lineup is named will carry a rich legacy into the fixture, as the Rest of India squad boasts a record 30 Irani Cup titles, double the tally of the second-most successful side, Mumbai.

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Following the conclusion of the Irani Cup, J&K will pivot immediately to their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy title defense starting October 11 against Madhya Pradesh. Placed in Elite Group A, the reigning champions face a challenging road ahead in a pool that includes Vidarbha, Baroda, Puducherry, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Goa alongside MP.