SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir fought back from 37 for four to take a 41-run first-innings lead over Rest of India on the second day of the Irani Cup at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium on Friday.
Resuming their first innings at 21 for two, J&K lost two more wickets in the morning session and were reduced to 37 for four before captain Paras Dogra and Abdul Samad steadied the innings.
Dogra and Samad added 101 runs for the fifth wicket to revive the hosts after the early collapse.
J&K reached 70 for four at tea after 22 overs, with the pair holding the innings together following the dismissals of Shubham Khajuria for four and Qamran Iqbal for 24.
The hosts continued their recovery after tea and were eventually bowled out for 278, securing a 41-run lead over Rest of India, who had been dismissed for 237 on the opening day.
Lone Nasir Muzaffar provided the late impetus with a valuable 64 off 58 balls, helping J&K finish strongly after they had faced difficulties at various stages of the innings.
Mukesh Choudhary was the pick of the Rest of India bowlers, claiming five wickets as J&K lost wickets at regular intervals but still managed to gain the first-innings advantage.
Rest of India began their second innings and lost Shikhar Mohan for two.
Sudip Kumar Gharami and Sanat Sangwan remained unbeaten on 10 each as the visitors reached 24 for one in 15 overs at stumps, trailing J&K by 17 runs.
Earlier, Rest of India had made 237 in their first innings, with Smaran Ravichandran top-scoring with 68, while Shikhar Mohan made 60 and Sarfaraz Khan contributed 45.
J&K’s Sunil Kumar and Lone Nasir Muzaffar had taken three wickets each in the first innings, while Umar Nazir Mir picked up two.
The match continued to attract cricket fans in Srinagar, with Rest of India captain Rishabh Pant interacting with spectators at the historic venue. Local fans also took selfies with the India wicketkeeper-batter during the match.
JKCA official Salman Nizami described the ongoing Irani Cup as the first tournament of its level to be hosted in Srinagar since 1983 and 1986, citing the presence of players including Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Abdul Samad and Paras Dogra.
He also said spectators were turning up in large numbers to watch the matches.
The Irani Cup is being played from October 1 to 5 at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar, with the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir taking on Rest of India.
Scorecard on Day 2: Rest of India 237 all out; J&K 278 all out; Rest of India 24/1 (15 overs), trailing by 17 runs.
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