3 fresh faces to keep an eye on in Irani Cup 2026

The Irani Cup 2026-27 got underway on October 1, 2026, in Srinagar, with Jammu & Kashmir, the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy champions, taking on Rest of India. The match also serves as the precursor to the Ranji Trophy season, which begins on October 11, 2026.

Several players in both squads will be looking to use this platform to press their case ahead of the domestic season. Three names in particular stand out as fresh faces worth following closely throughout the contest.

3. Shikhar Mohan

Shikhar Mohan is a 21-year-old batter from Jharkhand who has earned his place in the Rest of India squad on the back of a strong run of form across the previous domestic season. He was Jharkhand's leading run-scorer in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, finishing with 613 runs from 12 innings at an average of 55.72. His form carried into the Duleep Trophy, where he posted scores of 85 and 52 in the final against South Zone. On Day 1 of the Irani Cup, Mohan continued in the same vein, scoring 60 off 118 balls with nine fours and one six, underlining why selectors backed him for this assignment.