Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Sept 30 (JKNS): Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir will face a star-studded Rest of India side in the Irani Cup at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium here from Thursday, with both captains stressing the importance of staying focused on the five-day contest.
Rest of India will be led by India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, while Paras Dogra will captain J&K, who will be without pacer Auqib Nabi, currently with the Indian team, as per news agency JKNS.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Pant said he remained focused on making the most of every opportunity.
“For me, it’s very simple. Whatever is in front of me, I will give my best. That is how I play. I keep it very simple. Whatever opportunity I get, I try to get better,” Pant said during the pre-match press conference.
The Irani Cup will also provide Pant with valuable red-ball game time as he continues to build match rhythm.
“Playing cricket is always good. The more you play, the better you can get for sure,” he said.
Pant acknowledged J&K’s impressive campaign but said Rest of India would remain focused on its own plans.
“The way J&K have played most of the season has been exceptional. They have done really well. But at the same time, we want to focus on ourselves,” he said.
Dogra, meanwhile, said J&K had already put their Ranji Trophy triumph behind them and were looking ahead to the next challenge.
“We won the championship and it was a very good atmosphere. We have forgotten that now. We have taken the good things and made memories, but now we have to think about the future,” he said.
“The next name is Irani. What has happened is in the memories now.”
The J&K skipper said the team was well prepared despite the absence of some key players, including Nabi.
“Everyone is in good shape. Everyone is hungry and everyone wants to do well. There will obviously be a lack, but we have replacements. We want to play good cricket,” Dogra said. (JKNS)
