Laxmi Ratan Shukla named ROI batting coach for Irani Cup vs J&K
Synopsis
Laxmi Ratan Shukla gets his first BCCI coaching assignment as ROI batting coach for the Irani Cup — and faces the very team that knocked Bengal out of the Ranji Trophy semifinals. With Rishabh Pant leading a star-studded side and J&K appearing in the Irani Cup for the first time ever on home turf, this fixture carries more storylines than most domestic clashes.
Key Takeaways
Laxmi Ratan Shukla named batting coach of Rest of India for the Irani Cup — his first BCCI coaching assignment.
The match runs from 1 to 5 October at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium , Srinagar .
Debasish Mohanty (bowling) and Milap Mewada (fielding) complete the ROI coaching staff.
Rishabh Pant captains the 15-member ROI squad; Sarfaraz Khan is vice-captain.
Akash Deep is in the squad but must clear a fitness test after seven months out with a lower back injury.
Jammu and Kashmir make their first-ever Irani Cup appearance , on home turf, as reigning Ranji Trophy champions.
Former India all-rounder and current Bengal senior men's head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been appointed as the batting coach of the Rest of India (ROI) side for the upcoming Irani Cup clash against Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir. The five-day match is scheduled from 1 to 5 October at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, and marks Shukla's first coaching assignment with a BCCI team.
Coaching Staff Appointed
Alongside Shukla, former India fast bowler and ex-national selector Debasish Mohanty has been named bowling coach for the fixture, while Milap Mewada takes charge as fielding coach. The appointments were confirmed by a BCCI source on Thursday, 24 September.
Shukla, aged 46, played 3 ODIs for India in 1999 and featured for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He has been at the helm of Bengal's senior men's setup for several seasons. There is a notable subplot to his appointment: Bengal's Ranji Trophy campaign last season ended in a semifinal defeat to eventual champions Jammu and Kashmir — the same side ROI must now face.
ROI Squad: Pant to Lead, Sarfaraz as Deputy
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will captain the 15-member Rest of India squad, with right-handed batter Sarfaraz Khan named vice-captain. The batting line-up also includes Smaran Ravichandran of Karnataka, who was the leading run-scorer in last season's Ranji Trophy, along with Sanat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Gharami, and Ayush Doseja. Aryan Juyal has been named as the back-up wicketkeeper.
Pace and Spin Attack
India pacer Mukesh Kumar will spearhead the pace attack alongside Mukesh Choudhary and Aryan Pandey. Fast bowler Akash Deep, who has been sidelined for the past seven months due to a lower back injury, is part of the squad, though his participation remains subject to clearing a fitness test.
Spin duties are shared between left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar, off-spinner Saransh Jain — who recently made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Colombo — and left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Anukul Roy.
A Historic Irani Cup Moment for J&K
Jammu and Kashmir, having clinched their maiden Ranji Trophy title earlier this year, will be participating in the Irani Cup for the first time in the tournament's history, and doing so on home turf at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium. The occasion adds considerable weight to what is already a significant domestic cricket fixture, setting up a compelling contest between the reigning Ranji champions and a star-studded ROI side.
Point of View
The Irani Cup's significance as a development platform is underscored here — pairing experienced names like Pant and Sarfaraz Khan with newer Test faces such as Saransh Jain signals a deliberate look at the next tier of India's red-ball pipeline. Akash Deep's inclusion, fitness-test pending, is the selection gamble to watch: if he is cleared, it tells us something important about India's pace plans heading into the next Test cycle.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been named batting coach of Rest of India for the Irani Cup 2024?
Former India all-rounder and Bengal head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla has been named batting coach of Rest of India for the Irani Cup clash against Jammu and Kashmir. This is his first coaching assignment with a BCCI team.
When and where is the Irani Cup 2024 being played?
The Irani Cup 2024 match between Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India is scheduled from 1 to 5 October at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. Jammu and Kashmir will be making their first-ever appearance in the Irani Cup, on home turf, as reigning Ranji Trophy champions.
Who will captain the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup?
India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will captain the 15-member Rest of India squad, with Sarfaraz Khan named as vice-captain.
Is Akash Deep fit to play in the Irani Cup?
Akash Deep is part of the ROI squad but has been sidelined for the past seven months due to a lower back injury. His participation is subject to clearing a fitness test ahead of the match.
Who are the other coaching staff for Rest of India at the Irani Cup?
Former India fast bowler and ex-national selector Debasish Mohanty has been appointed bowling coach, while Milap Mewada serves as fielding coach, alongside batting coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla.
