The Irani Cup is to be played between Ranji champions Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India. This match will be held from 1 to 5 October at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (16 September) announced the 15-member Rest of India squad for this match. Rishabh Pant has been made the captain of Rest of India. Whereas Sarfaraz Khan has been given the responsibility of vice-captain.
Akash Deep also joins the team
Fast bowler Akash Deep has also been included in the Rest of India squad. However, he will have to prove his fitness. Akash Deep has been suffering from stress injury in his lower back for a long time. He last played a competitive match for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals in February. Since then he is out.
Apart from Pant and Sarfaraz, batsmen like R Smaran, Ayush Doseja, Sanat Sangwan and Sudeep Kumar have also been included in the team. Apart from this, young batsman Shikhar Mohan from Jharkhand has also been selected in the Rest of India squad. Shikhar Mohan had recently performed well in the Duleep Trophy. Pant will also handle the responsibility of wicketkeeping along with the captain. Aryan Juyal has been kept as backup wicketkeeper.
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Who is in bowling?
Mukesh Kumar and Mukesh Chaudhary will handle the fast bowling, while Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain will be the main spinners. Jharkhand all-rounder Anukul Roy has also got a place in the team. Anukul played an important role in making East Zone the champion by performing brilliantly with both bat and ball in the Duleep Trophy.
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Rest of India squad:
Rishabh Pant (captain, wk), Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudeep Kumar Gharami, Sarfaraz Khan (vice-captain), R Smaran, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Chaudhary, Aryan Juyal (wk), Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy, Ayush Doseja