Rishabh Pant Leads Rest of India in Irani Cup Clash

Rishabh Pant will return to red-ball leadership duty as captain of Rest of India in the Irani Cup clash against newly crowned Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir, a high-profile assignment that arrives soon after he missed out on selection for the ODI series against West Indies.

The five-day fixture, scheduled from October 1-5 at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, hands Pant a prominent stage to reassert his long-format credentials. He will also keep wickets, with Sarfaraz Khan named his deputy in a squad that blends proven domestic heavyweights with emerging talent.

Pant’s stage, Sarfaraz’s platform

For Pant, this is more than just another domestic outing. Leading Rest of India has traditionally been a marker of status in the Indian red-ball ecosystem, and his appointment underlines the value selectors still place on his leadership and impact in longer formats.

Sarfaraz, the relentless run-machine of recent seasons, slots in as vice-captain. His presence alongside Pant gives the middle order a hardened core, backed by an array of young batters including Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan and Sudip Gharami. Smaran Ravichandran and Ayush Doseja, the top two run-scorers in the previous Ranji Trophy, also find their names on the team sheet, a clear reward for sustained domestic dominance.

Akash Deep’s long road back

One of the most intriguing subplots surrounds Akash Deep. The seamer, who has been sidelined for an extended spell with a lower-back stress injury, has been named in the squad subject to fitness. His last competitive outing? A Ranji Trophy match in February 2026 — against the very same Jammu & Kashmir side he could now face again in Srinagar.

If cleared, his return will bolster a pace unit that already features Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary and Aryan Pandey. The combination offers both experience and variety, with Mukesh Kumar’s control, Choudhary’s left-arm angle and Pandey’s promise giving Pant multiple new-ball options.

Spin strength and recent Test exposure

The spin department carries a distinctly contemporary feel. Anukul Roy brings his all-round value, while Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain arrive on the back of recent exposure in the Test series against Sri Lanka. That experience at the highest level could prove decisive on what are often attritional surfaces in Srinagar, especially as the game wears on.

Behind the stumps, Pant is joined by another wicketkeeping option in Aryan Juyal, offering flexibility in team balance and allowing Rest of India to stack their batting if conditions demand.

A showcase for champions and challengers

For Jammu & Kashmir, this Irani Cup is the reward for a landmark Ranji Trophy campaign. For Rest of India, it is a statement fixture, led by a star still pushing to reclaim his place at the heart of India’s white-ball and red-ball plans.

The full Rest of India squad reads: Rishabh Pant (C, WK), Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Gharami, Sarfaraz Khan (VC), Smaran Ravichandran, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Akash Deep*, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Aryan Juyal (WK), Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy, Ayush Doseja.

All eyes now turn to Srinagar, where a resurgent Pant, a hungry Sarfaraz and a cluster of in-form domestic stars will test the resolve of India’s newest Ranji champions.