The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the domestic schedule for the 2026-27 season. The reigning Ranji Trophy champions, Jammu and Kashmir, have been awarded the hosting rights for the Irani Cup 2026-27, from October 1 to 6, against the Rest of India (RoI).
Jammu & Kashmir to host Irani Cup
J&K had scripted history by holding Karnataka to a draw in Hubli. With a first-innings lead, they’d managed to get their hands on the most prestigious domestic trophy in India. As a reward, the BCCI has granted the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) the opportunity to play the Irani Cup at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar.
For the unversed, the reigning champions of the Ranji Trophy face a multi-state team composed of players from the other state teams in a trophy match called the Irani Cup. The one-off match was first played in the 1959-60 season. There’s a precedent of the Ranji Trophy winners hosting the game, but it’s not mandatory.
Over the past few years, fans have wanted the BCCI to grant more matches to the JKCA. The home stadium, Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, has hosted just 14 matches, domestic and international, despite being established in 1983. However, in the last two Ranji Trophy seasons, J&K has hosted 4 matches.
It won’t be the first time that Jammu & Kashmir has been graced with hosting a major BCCI domestic tournament, with the JKCA hosting a Duleep Trophy match in 1988. However, since then, J&K has played only first-class matches in Srinagar. All that will change now.
List of matches at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar
| Team 1 | Team 2 | Winner | Date | Format |
| J & K | Rajasthan | J & K won by an innings & 41 runs | Oct 25-27, 2025 | First-class |
| J & K | Mumbai | Mumbai won by 35 runs | Oct 15-18, 2025 | First-class |
| J & K | Services | J & K won by an innings & 25 runs | Oct 26-27, 2024 | First-class |
| J & K | Maharashtra | drawn | Oct 11-14, 2024 | First-class |
| J & K | Tripura | J & K won by 8 wickets | Nov 20-23, 2018 | First-class |
| J & K | Kerala | drawn | Oct 1-4, 2015 | First-class |
| J & K | Goa | J & K won by 3 wickets | Nov 7-10, 2013 | First-class |
| J & K | Jharkhand | drawn | Nov 10-13, 2011 | First-class |
| J & K | Assam | drawn | Nov 3-6, 2011 | First-class |
| J & K | Haryana | drawn | Nov 10-13, 2009 | First-class |
| J & K | Orissa | Orissa won by 8 wickets | Nov 16-20, 2004 | First-class |
| Central Zone | East Zone | East Zone won via first innings lead | Sep 10-13, 1988 | First-class |
| India | Australia | Australia won by 3 wickets | Sep 9, 1986 | ODI |
| India | West Indies | West Indies won by 28 runs | Oct 13, 1983 | ODI |
