Photo via CricTracker

3 fresh faces to keep an eye on in Irani Cup 2026

The Irani Cup 2026-27 commenced on October 1 in Srinagar, featuring a clash between Rest of India and the reigning Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir as a prelude to the upcoming domestic calendar. Three emerging players are drawing attention during the contest, beginning with Jharkhand batter Shikhar Mohan, who accumulated 613 runs at an average of 55.72 across twelve innings during the previous Ranji campaign and posted an opening-day knock of 60 runs from 118 deliveries.

Karnataka left-hander Ravichandran Smaran also earned a place in the Rest of India side after leading the 2025-26 run charts with 950 runs from fourteen innings at an average of 86.36, highlighted by an unbeaten 227 against Chandigarh. Meanwhile, left-arm fast bowler Sunil Kumar enters the fixture following a 31-wicket haul during Jammu & Kashmir's title-winning run, and he is tasked with pacing the bowling unit on a helpful home pitch ahead of the broader Ranji schedule beginning October 11.

Up nextCricket· 30m ago

Mohammed Siraj castles John Campbell with a pearler on ODI return