Rest of India clinched the Irani Trophy in Srinagar after a blistering bowling performance by Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep dismantled Jammu & Kashmir’s batting lineup. Chasing a target of 279, J&K collapsed for just 111 runs, handing the victors a substantial 167-run win. Mukesh Kumar picked six wickets while Akash Deep accounted for three as Rest of India ran through Jammu & Kashmir’s line-up after setting them a target of 279 to clinch the Irani Trophy in Srinagar. Mukesh and Akash Deep ensured they got nowhere close to it.
The fourth day of the match began with Smaran Ravichandran adding to his overnight score alongside the tailenders. He eventually fell for 135 runs, having contributed another 13 to the total, which set up the challenging 279-run chase for J&K. While J&K openers Qamran Iqbal and Shubham Khajuria provided a stable foundation with a 54-run partnership, the momentum shifted once Akash Deep trapped Iqbal leg before wicket. He could only add 13 more runs in the company of the last two batters before being dismissed on 135. Who scored 278 in their first innings, were asked to chase one more than that to win the game, it set the game up as J&K.
Mukesh Kumar proved nearly unplayable, removing Shubham Pundir and captain Paras Dogra in a single over to leave J&K reeling at 65/3. Although Abdul Samad and Khajuria attempted to stabilize the innings, Akash Deep dismissed Khajuria, triggering a total collapse. The final three batters—Abid Mushtaq, Umar Nazir Mir, and Sunil Kumar—were all claimed by Mukesh in the same over as the team crumbled from 89/4 to 110 all-out within 28.4 overs.
Brief Scores: Rest of India 237 & 319 (Smaran Ravichandran 135, Sanat Sangwan 55; Umar Nazir Mir 3-92, Sahil Lotra 3-71, Sunil Kumar 3-56) defeated Jammu and Kashmir 278 & 111 (Shubham Khajuria 36; Mukesh Kumar 6-33, Akash Deep 3-25) by 167 runs.
