Fast bowlers enjoyed an upper hand on a lush green pitch as Jammu & Kashmir restricted the Rest of India side to 237 before losing two early wickets on Day One of the 2026/27 Irani Cup match at the picturesque Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar on Thursday.
In the morning, J& K struck early when Sunil had opener Sanat Sangwan (4) caught behind. Nasir then removed Sudip Kumar Gharami (2), before the Rest of India rebuilt through opener Shikhar Mohan (60) and vice-captain Sarfaraz Khan (45), who forged a watchful 76-run third-wicket partnership off 133 balls. Sarfaraz was strangled down leg off Nazir, who then dismissed captain Rishabh Pant (10) after the wicketkeeper-batter miscued to short cover-point. From a comfortable 108/2, Rest of India slipped to 155/7, losing five wickets for 22 runs in the afternoon session. Middle-order batter Ravichandran Smaran anchored the tail to lift Rest of India past the 200-run mark. Smaran scored a fighting 68 off 83 balls, adding 39 runs for the eighth wicket with Akash Deep (22) and another 43 runs for the ninth wicket alongside Mukesh Choudhary (2).
J&K turned the tide in the afternoon session as Nasir double-bluffed Mohan into a loose drive outside off and had him caught behind shortly after lunch.
