Mukesh and Akash Deep steer Rest of India to Irani Cup win

Fast bowlers Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep played a key role in guiding Rest of India to the Irani Cup title at the Sher-I-Kashmir stadium in Srinagar. Rest of India beat the defending Ranji Trophy champions, Jammu and Kashmir, by 167 runs.

Match Performance

Mukesh took 6 wickets for 33 runs, while Akash took 3 wickets for 25 runs. This victory marks Rest of India's first Irani Cup title win since 2024. For Akash, this was his first match in nearly eight months after recovering from a lower-back stress fracture, while selectors watched closely from the sidelines ahead of the New Zealand series. Mukesh entered the match in strong form after topping the wicket charts in the Duleep Trophy with 12 scalps and playing in the English County Championship.

Personal Background

Both players hail from Bihar and moved to West Bengal early in their lives, with neither set of parents initially supporting their cricket ambitions. Akash moved from Sasaram in 2010 to live with his uncle, and Mukesh relocated from Gopalganj to help his father's taxi business. They first shared the ball in a senior domestic match on Christmas Day, taking five wickets against Andhra.

Context

The Irani Cup is a prestigious fixture in Indian domestic cricket that traditionally features the current Ranji Trophy champions playing against a Rest of India team made up of top performers from across the country. Success in domestic red-ball tournaments like the Irani Cup and Duleep Trophy serves as a primary pathway for players seeking selection or a return to the national Test squad.