Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Jammu and Kashmir to host Irani Cup in Srinagar after 40 years
A very special cricket game is coming to a place called Srinagar.
Srinagar is in a beautiful part of India called Kashmir.
It has been 40 years since a big cricket match was played there.
The last big match happened way back in September 1986, when India played against Australia.
Now, a big Indian cricket tournament called the Irani Cup will be played there.
The game will happen from October 1 to 5 in the year 2026.
The team from Jammu and Kashmir will play against a team made of players from the rest of India.
Jammu and Kashmir won a big Indian cricket contest called the Ranji Trophy before this.
The game will take place at a stadium called the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium.
People are very excited because this is a historic moment for the valley.
The Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar will host the 2026 Irani Cup from October 1–5.
The match will pit Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir against the Rest of India.
It will be the first major cricket event in the Kashmir Valley in 40 years.
The last major international match in the region was an ODI between India and Australia in September 1986.
The match marks the return of prominent domestic cricket to Kashmir for the first time since 1986.
- Who
- Jammu and Kashmir cricket team and the Rest of India team, organized by Indian domestic cricket authorities.
- What
- The 2026 Irani Cup, a domestic cricket match between Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India.
- When
- October 1–5, 2026.
- Where
- Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar, in the Kashmir Valley, India.
- Why
- It marks the return of major cricket to Kashmir for the first time in 40 years, since India hosted Australia in an ODI in September 1986.
- Event
- 2026 Irani Cup
- Venue
- Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar
- Dates
- October 1–5, 2026
- Teams
- Jammu and Kashmir (Ranji Trophy champions) vs Rest of India
- Previous major match
- India vs Australia ODI, September 1986
- Gap since last major match
- 40 years