Rishabh Pant leads Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in Irani Cup
Rishabh Pant leads Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup. Jammu and Kashmir won the toss and elected to field first.
Rishabh Pant will captain Rest of India against Jammu and Kashmir in the Irani Cup starting Thursday at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The match marks Pant's return to red-ball cricket after missing selection for India's limited-overs squads. Jammu and Kashmir won the toss and elected to field first.
Jammu and Kashmir will play without their leading seamer Auqib Nabi, who earned an India call-up for the West Indies ODI series. The defending Ranji Trophy champions also miss Yudhvir Singh Charak due to injury. Rest of India named a squad that includes Sarfaraz Khan, Sudip Kumar Gharami and young talents such as Manav Suthar and Shikhar Mohan.
Pant said he focuses on what he can control and aims to share his experience with younger teammates. The match offers both sides a platform before the Ranji Trophy season begins.
CricHubb Take
Pant needs substantial red-ball returns to strengthen his Test position. Limited-overs omission has narrowed his immediate pathway, making domestic performances critical for selection continuity.