Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named captain of the Rest of India squad for the upcoming Irani Cup, while Sarfaraz Khan will serve as vice-captain under a 15-member roster announced by the BCCI for the 2026-27 fixture.
Rishabh Pant Takes Leadership Role as Rest of India Squad is Formed
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially unveiled the 15-player Rest of India squad, placing leadership responsibilities squarely on Rishabh Pant as captain and wicketkeeper. Alongside him, Sarfaraz Khan takes on the role of vice-captain for the prestigious domestic fixture.
While Pant assumes the leadership mantle for the Rest of India side, he was not included in India’s squad for the concurrent ODI series against West Indies.
Match Schedule and Opponent Details for the Irani Cup
The traditional Irani Cup contest brings together the reigning Ranji Trophy champions and the Rest of India selection. For the 2026-27 edition, Jammu and Kashmir enters as the Ranji Trophy champion to face the Rest of India squad.
The multi-day fixture is scheduled to run from October 1 to October 5. The venue for the encounter is set at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar.
Complete 15-Member Rest of India Roster
The selection committee has brought together a mix of experienced names and domestic standouts. Fast bowler Akash Deep is included conditionally, with his participation subject to passing a fitness test prior to the match.
- Rishabh Pant (Captain and Wicketkeeper)
- Sarfaraz Khan (Vice-Captain)
- Sanat Sangwan
- Shikhar Mohan
- Sudip Gharami
- Smaran Ravichandran
- Manav Suthar
- Saransh Jain
- Akash Deep
- Mukesh Kumar
- Mukesh Choudhary
- Aryan Juyal (Wicketkeeper)
- Aryan Pandey
- Anukul Roy
- Ayush Doseja
Concurrent Fixtures and Squad Availability
The timing of the Irani Cup intersects with other international and domestic commitments. The fixture will run concurrently with the Asian Games and India’s ODI series against West Indies.
Because of these overlapping assignments, several prominent players from the senior national setup remain unavailable for the Srinagar match. In parallel with the Rest of India announcement, the BCCI also released national squads for the West Indies ODI series—captained by Shubman Gill—and a five-match home T20 series led by Shreyas Iyer.