Jammu and Kashmir set for Irani Cup clash in Srinagar

Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to face Rest of India in the Irani Cup from October 1 to 5 at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, with the Ranji Trophy champions set to play without leading wicket-taker Auqib Nabi, who is with India for its ODI series against the West Indies, according to match previews. The five-day first-class match is listed to begin at 9:30 a.m. local time. Jammu and Kashmir will be led by Paras Dogra, while Rishabh Pant will captain Rest of India. The fixture brings the reigning Ranji Trophy champions against a team drawn from players representing other Ranji sides. It is scheduled to be the first time Srinagar hosts the Irani Cup. Nabi took 60 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, according to the previews. His absence has been a focus in the build-up, but Dogra said Jammu and Kashmir have other bowling options. He pointed to Sunil Kumar’s 31 wickets and said Umar Nazir was ready to contribute. Those remarks were made before the match, and the reports do not establish how the team will perform without Nabi.