Lakshmi Ratan Shukla appointed batting coach for 'Rest of India' team for Iran Cup 2026

Rishabh Pant was unable to make the Indian squad for the ODI series against West Indies, so his focus is now on the Iranian Cup. He has been entrusted to captain the Rest of India team. The first match, scheduled for October 1st in Srinagar, will be played between Rest of India and the Ranji Trophy champion from Jammu and Kashmir for the 2025-26 season.

Pant will not only lead the team but also serve as the wicketkeeper. This means that after a long break, he will take on a leadership role in a first-class match.

Sarfaraz Khan has been named the vice-captain of the Rest of India team. Additionally, fast bowler Akash Dip has been included in the 15-man squad, although his participation is contingent on his health. Akash Dip last participated in a competition in February, representing Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. Following this, he struggled with a lower back injury, which prevented him from playing the entire IPL 2026 season and also caused his absence from matches for India.

The Iranian Cup could offer an opportunity for his return to competitive cricket, but he must first undergo a medical examination.

Selectors have also included players who demonstrated outstanding performances in last season's Ranji tournament. Four batsmen who scored the most runs in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy have been selected for the Rest of India. Aash Rasmaran scored 950 runs, Ayush Dosija scored 949, Sannat Sangwan scored 828, and Sudip Kumar Garami scored 797.

These four have secured spots in the 15-man squad. Batsman Shikhar Mohan from Jharkhand is also part of the team; he scored the most runs for Jharkhand in the previous Ranji season. Furthermore, he played innings of 85 and 52 runs in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy final.

Mukesh Kumar and Mukesh Choudhary will handle the batting line for Rest of India. Manav Sutar and Saransh Jain will be the primary options in the spin department. Anukul Roy has also joined the team, having made significant contributions to both batting and bowling in East Zone's victory in the Duleep Trophy.

Manav Sutar's recent performance has been impressive: he took 23 wickets in his first three Test matches, including one match with 10 wickets. He also scored 79 runs across four innings in batting. Saransh Jain debuted in international cricket in the second match against Sri Lanka in Colombo, where he took three wickets. His domestic cricket statistics are also strong: Jain took only 51 wickets over two Ranji seasons. He was also recently part of the Central Zone team in the Duleep Trophy.

Who will be the backup wicketkeeper alongside Pant?

Aryan Jual has been included in the squad as a backup wicketkeeper for Pant. This match is particularly important for Pant, as after missing the ODI series against West Indies, he will attempt to regain his form with red balls. Captaining the Rest of India team is also an added responsibility for him. The team includes several players who performed well in recent domestic tournaments.

The Iranian Cup is traditionally viewed as an important fixture before the start of the new Ranji season. After this match, the new Ranji Trophy season will commence on October 11th.

Rest of India squad: Rishabh Pant (Captain, Wicketkeeper), Sannat Sangwan, Shikhar Mohan, Sudip Garami, Sarfaraz Khan (Vice-Captain), Aash Rasmaran, Manav Sutar, Saransh Jain, Akash Dip*, Mukesh Kumar, Mukesh Choudhary, Aryan Jual (Wicketkeeper), Aryan Pandey, Anukul Roy, Ayush Dosija. *Akash Dip's selection will be based on his health condition.

Today will see the announcement of the Indian team squad for the three-match ODI series and five T20 matches against the West Indies. During the selection committee meeting, chaired by Ajit Agarkar, preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup will also be discussed.

The series, starting on September 27th, will take place in Trivandrum, Guwahati, and New Chandigarh. The selectors face a difficult task this time, as many key players are part of the squad selected for the Asian Games, while some athletes are battling injuries. This makes forming the ODI squad a complex process.

Special attention will be paid to decisions concerning Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. Stay tuned for our updates to find out what the Indian team lineup against the West Indies will be.

Rohit Sharma has expressed his desire to participate in the 2027 ODI World Cup, and his selection for the series against the West Indies will provide important signals regarding future plans. Similarly, Virat Kohli's fate is under close scrutiny, as the future of these two experienced batsmen is a crucial issue in the context of preparation for the next global tournament.

Previously, Rohit was entrusted with leading the ODI team in October 2025, after which he was replaced by Shubman Gill. Nevertheless, Rohit has not announced his retirement from ODIs and remains available.

His form was discussed following the Cardiff ODI in the England tour, where he scored 26 runs, and after matches against Afghanistan with scores of 16, 48, and 79. However, his previous ODI match at Lord's ended in a century. The main question now is whether the selection committee will include him and Virat Kohli in the squad against the West Indies.

Hardik Pandya's situation is one of the most critical issues for the selection committee. He has not participated in competitive matches since IPL 2026. In June, he was selected for the ODI series against Afghanistan but was dropped before the series due to a leg injury.

He also failed to play in four matches for Mumbai Indians during IPL 2026. Following this, he focused on recovery and conditioning at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence. Currently, Hardik is included in the India A squad for the ODI series against Australia A, but his participation depends on clearing a medical examination. These matches will take place on October 6th, 9th, and 11th in Puducherry, i.e., after the series against the West Indies.

Thus, today's question is whether the selection committee will give Hardik a chance in the series against the West Indies, or if his return will be postponed. His ability to bowl in the 50-over format could be extremely valuable to the team's composition.

If Hardik cannot participate, the selection committee will have to consider options for a quick all-rounder. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Akshar Patel, Shivam Dube, and Washington Sundar are part of the Asian Games squad. Harsh Dube is injured. In that case, Ravindra Jadeja's name might reappear. Jadeja has not been a regular part of the ODI squad recently; he has not played in this format since January 2026. Krunal Pandya is also an option, as he played a key role in RCB's victory in the last two IPL seasons. However, his inclusion in the team will depend on the selection committee's decision.

Rishabh Pant's return could also be a major event at this selection committee meeting. Pant has not played ODI cricket for India for a long time. While Ishan Kishan is part of the squad selected for the Asian Games, Pant may have strong claims for the wicketkeeper reserve spot. Kyle Rahul is ready to play as a wicketkeeper, and his role in the team will remain important. If Pant is selected, he could also offer options in the middle order besides wicketkeeping duties. Dhruv Jurel's name is also being discussed. He has not yet debuted in ODI for India, but his performances in Test matches have attracted the attention of the selection committee. Thus, the battle for the wicketkeeper position is not limited to gloves; the option of a batsman in the team will also be considered.

The limited availability of players due to the Asian Games and injuries might make Ravindra Jadeja's experience useful for the team. However, there are also young alternatives alongside him. Manav Chatur, Vipraj Nigam, and other spin-all-rounders might be on the selection committee's radar.

The pair Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal might generate the most interest in the spin department. Kuldeep performed well in university cricket for Yorkshire in England. Chahal showed impact in the ODI Cup for Northamptonshire. Following such performances, talks about his return have intensified. Chahal has not played for India since August 2023. If he is selected, and Kuldeep is also chosen, they might see both together in the ODI team after a long break.

However, the Asian Games factor is also involved here. Varun Chakravarthy's health status is being monitored. If there is a change in the spin department, Kuldeep's availability situation might also change.

The first ODI against the West Indies will take place on September 27th.