Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep Power Rest Of India To Irani Cup Title

Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep produced a sensational bowling performance to help Rest of India defeat Jammu and Kashmir by 167 runs and lift the Irani Cup in Srinagar on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 279, Jammu and Kashmir needed only to secure a draw to claim the trophy, having taken a 41-run first-innings lead. However, Mukesh and Akash dismantled the hosts’ batting line-up, bowling them out for 111 on the fourth day.

Mukesh finished with figures of 6 for 33, while Akash claimed 3 for 25 to seal a comprehensive victory for Rest of India.

Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep Trigger J&K Collapse

Jammu and Kashmir began their chase positively, with openers Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal putting together a 54-run partnership.

Akash broke the stand by trapping Iqbal in front of the wicket. Mukesh then struck twice in successive deliveries in the 15th over, dismissing Shubham Pundir and captain Paras Dogra.

Dogra was bowled by a delivery that moved away just enough to beat his defence and hit the middle stump.

Jammu and Kashmir reached lunch at 89 for 3, with Khajuria and Abdul Samad at the crease. But Akash dismissed Khajuria with the first ball after the interval, triggering a dramatic collapse.

The hosts lost their remaining six wickets for just 22 runs in nine overs, handing Rest of India a memorable victory.

Akash Deep Impresses Ahead Of New Zealand Tour

Akash’s performance will be encouraging for the national selectors ahead of India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand. The pacer claimed six wickets across 23.3 overs in the match, demonstrating his progress after recovering from injury concerns.

Mukesh’s six-wicket haul was equally decisive, as the two fast bowlers combined to take nine wickets in Jammu and Kashmir’s second innings.

Earlier, Rest of India resumed their second innings at 306 for 8 and were eventually bowled out for 319. Umar Nazir, Sunil Kumar and Sahil Lotra picked up three wickets each for Jammu and Kashmir.

However, Rest of India’s dominant bowling display proved the difference, allowing them to overcome the first-innings deficit and secure the Irani Cup.

Brief Scores: Rest of India 237 and 319; Jammu and Kashmir 278 and 111 all out in 28.4 overs (Shubham Khajuria 36; Mukesh Kumar 6/33, Akash Deep 3/25). Rest of India won by 167 runs.