SRINAGAR: In what promises to be a watershed moment for cricket in Jammu and Kashmir, 41-time Ranji Trophy champions Mumbai are poised to play their first-ever match in Srinagar this October. The much-anticipated fixture against the Jammu and Kashmir team is tentatively scheduled for October 15, 2025, at the iconic Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, ETV Bharat reported.
Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) described the upcoming encounter as a historic occasion. “If everything goes as planned, fans here will get to see top Indian stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Sarfaraz Khan in action,” one official was quoted as saying. “It will be a treat for local cricket lovers.”
The marquee match is expected to draw massive crowds and unprecedented enthusiasm, as cricket-hungry fans in the Valley prepare to witness elite-level domestic action for the first time in years. The stadium, nestled in the lap of the Zabarwan mountains, has hosted two ODIs in the 1980s and a handful of domestic fixtures since then, but none with the star power or stakes of this one.
Despite its limited exposure to international cricket, Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium has proven a lucky venue for the home side in recent years. In November 2018, J&K defeated Tripura by eight wickets, and in October 2024, they routed Services by an innings and 25 runs. The latter match saw Services bundled out for 71 and 132, while J&K’s batting unit posted 228 in reply—highlighting the team’s depth in both departments.
Though Mumbai carry the weight of legacy, the J&K side brings recent bragging rights. The two teams have clashed twice before in Ranji Trophy history, and J&K emerged victorious on both occasions.
