Srinagar: The much-awaited Irani Cup clash between Ranji Trophy champions Jammu & Kashmir and Rest of India is set to bring some of Indian cricket’s biggest domestic names to Srinagar, but one important question remains unanswered: Will fans be allowed inside the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium to watch the match?
With the five-day contest scheduled from October 1 to 5, there is still no clear public announcement from the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) regarding spectator entry, ticket sales, pricing or the procedure for obtaining passes.
And that silence is becoming increasingly difficult to understand.
The match is not an ordinary domestic fixture. J&K will face a Rest of India side led by Rishabh Pant, with Sarfaraz Khan as vice-captain. The squad also includes India-level names such as Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar and others from India’s domestic cricket circuit. The BCCI officially announced the 15-member Rest of India squad on September 16.
The fixture itself carries enormous significance for J&K. The team won its maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season, earning the right to play the traditional Irani Cup against the Rest of India.
The Irani Cup match is scheduled from October 1-5, with Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar as the venue.
But what about the fans?
That is the question JKCA needs to answer now. Local cricket followers have every reason to want to be there. The Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium has a reported capacity of around 5,000, and the Irani Cup will be the biggest cricket attraction in Kashmir in decades. Reports have also said that the venue is being upgraded for the match, including broadcast facilities, media arrangements and additional spectator stands. If additional arrangements are being made for spectators, then the next obvious question is: when and how will those spectators be allowed into the stadium?. Will there be paid tickets? Will entry be free? Will online booking be introduced? Will there be limited passes? When will the gates open? What security and seating arrangements will be followed?
There has been no publicly announced clarity on these basic questions so far.
Fans were ready even for practice games. The issue becomes more relevant because cricket followers in Kashmir have shown interest in watching J&K’s preparations even when the opposition has been domestic sides.
If fans are willing to turn up for practice and preparatory matches involving teams such as Kerala and Uttarakhand, it is difficult to see why interest would not be significantly higher when Rishabh Pant and the Rest of India arrive in Srinagar. The demand, therefore, is simple: JKCA should communicate clearly with the public. There is no need for fans to speculate about whether entry will be permitted or how they can watch the historic contest.
A historic match deserves a public welcome
The Irani Cup will mark the return of a major cricket fixture to Srinagar after a gap of several decades. The Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium last hosted an ODI in 1986, when Australia defeated India by three wickets.
The upcoming match therefore presents an opportunity not only for J&K cricket but also for the local cricketing public.
The BCCI has already announced the Rest of India squad. The match dates are known. The venue is known. The players are known.
So why is the fan-entry plan still not known?
JKCA should come out with a clear public announcement on tickets, entry and spectator arrangements without waiting until the last moment. Kashmir’s cricket fans have waited long enough for a high-profile match at home. Now they deserve to know whether they will be allowed to watch it from the stands.
