Rishabh Pant to Captain Rest of India in Irani Cup Against Jammu and Kashmir

Rishabh Pant has been named captain of the Rest of India team for the Irani Cup, facing Jammu and Kashmir in Srinagar. The BCCI also announced squad changes for the Japan T20I and Asian Games, including the inclusion of Vipraj Nigam as a replacement for the injured Varun Chakaravarthy. Additionally, Nitish Kumar Reddy has been withdrawn from the Asian Games to participate in an ODI series against the West Indies. Read on for more details about the teams and match schedules.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 17, 2026, 00:29 IST

Rishabh Pant to Lead Rest of India in Irani Cup

Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the captain of a formidable Rest of India team that will face the Ranji Trophy champions, Jammu and Kashmir, in the Irani Cup. This five-day first-class match is set to take place in Srinagar from October 1 to 5. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed the 15-member squad, with Sarfaraz Khan serving as the vice-captain. Pacer Akash Deep is also part of the squad, pending fitness clearance. The Irani Cup will feature Jammu and Kashmir, who recently clinched their first Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season, competing against a Rest of India team made up of players from various domestic teams. The venue for this match will be the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The Rest of India lineup includes players such as Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Gharami, Smaran Ravichandran, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Aryan Juyal, Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy, and Ayush Doseja.

Squad Changes for Japan T20I and Asian Games

The men's selection committee of the BCCI has made adjustments to India's squad for the upcoming Japan T20I and Asian Games. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been ruled out due to a side strain sustained during the first T20I against Afghanistan in Delhi. Consequently, he will miss both the one-off Japan T20I and the Asian Games. Vipraj Nigam, a leg-spin all-rounder, has been named as his replacement, marking his first call-up to the international stage.

Nigam gained recognition during the IPL 2025 while playing for Delhi Capitals, where he took 11 wickets across 14 matches and scored 142 runs at an impressive strike rate of 179.74. Although his performance in IPL 2026 was less remarkable, with only two wickets and 15 runs in five matches, he showcased his talent for India A during a one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka in June, taking seven wickets in five matches and scoring 116 runs at a strike rate of 126.08.

Additionally, Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was initially part of the Asian Games squad, has been withdrawn to participate in India's ODI series against the West Indies. A replacement for him in the Asian Games squad has yet to be announced, as India prepares to travel to Japan with a 14-player roster.