Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Srinagar is set to host cricket of the highest domestic profile, with Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant named captain of the Rest of India side for the 63rd edition of the Irani Cup against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir. The match will be played at the JKCA Ground, Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Sonwar, from October 1 to 5.
Sarfaraz Khan has been appointed vice-captain of a squad that blends established players with emerging domestic talent. The remaining members are Mukesh Choudhary, Akash Deep, Ayush Doseja, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Saransh Jain, Aryan Juyal, Mukesh Kumar, Shikhar Mohan, Aryan Pandey, Smaran Ravichandran, Anukul Roy, Sanat Sangwan and Manav Suthar.
The fixture is historic for the Valley. It will be the first time Srinagar hosts the Irani Cup, which is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The tournament traditionally pits the reigning Ranji Trophy champions against the Rest of India, and it is regarded as an important season-opening contest in the domestic calendar. For Jammu and Kashmir, meeting the country’s best players at home as champions is a milestone that the region’s cricket community has long aspired to.
Broadcast arrangements will match the occasion. The match will feature around 20 cameras, the Decision Review System and Hawkeye technology, and will be telecast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar. Such facilities will carry the action from Sonwar to viewers across the country, offering the region’s cricket infrastructure a national showcase.
Pant’s arrival in Srinagar has already generated considerable excitement among cricket enthusiasts. A player of his stature drawing crowds and attention is likely to inspire young cricketers in the Union Territory, many of whom will watch the country’s leading talents up close for the first time. The presence of Pant and Sarfaraz alongside fast bowlers such as Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar promises a competitive contest against a home side that has earned its place by winning the Ranji Trophy.
As the teams prepare for the first ball on October 1, the match is expected to mark a significant milestone for cricket in Jammu and Kashmir, both as a sporting occasion and as a moment of pride for the region.
