Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium To Host Irani Cup 2026 From October 1 To 5: Report

The Irani Cup is played between the winners of the last edition of the Ranji Trophy and the Rest of India side.

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Sher-i-Kashmir stadium to host Irani Cup 2026 final. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)

Srinagar’s Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium is all set to host the Irani Cup 2026 match between 2025-26 Ranji Trophy winners Jammu and Kashmir and the Rest of India from October 1 to 5. According to reports in the Indian media, the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar will host the Irani Cup, making it the biggest cricket match to be held in Kashmir since the ODI between India and Australia on September 9, 1986.

The Irani Cup is played between the winners of the previous edition of the Ranji Trophy and the Rest of India side. Since Jammu and Kashmir won the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, they will take on the Rest of India in the upcoming 2026 edition.

In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy final, J&K faced Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground in Hubli and secured victory by virtue of their first-innings lead.

For J&K, Auqib Nabi Dar will once again be a key player in the Irani Cup. The 29-year-old fast bowler from Baramulla picked up 60 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy to finish as the leading wicket-taker. He also registered impressive figures of 5/54 in 23 overs in the first innings of the final against Karnataka.

Apart from Auqib, who is currently part of India’s Test squad for the two-match series against Sri Lanka, Yudhvir Singh Charak will be another key fast bowler for J&K. Charak, who represents Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, has also impressed with his wicket-taking abilities.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to officially confirm the venue for the Irani Cup 2026 as well as announce the Rest of India squad.

The Rest of India have won a total of 30 Irani Cup titles so far, followed by Mumbai with 15 titles.

After taking part in the Irani Cup, J&K will begin their Ranji Trophy title defence on October 11 against Madhya Pradesh. The defending champions are part of Elite Group A in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, along with Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Baroda, Puducherry, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Goa.

About the Author

Harshit BishtSenior Sub-editor

Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football, and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelli…Read More

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Original source: https://www.news18.com/cricket/