Brig Anil Gupta
anil5457@gmail.com
This article outlines the remarkable transformation of cricket in Jammu & Kashmir in the last five years culminating in the team securing its first-ever Ranji Trophy title. It is a landmark achievement reflecting governance reform, institutional support, infrastructure modernisation, resilience in adversity, and strategic cricketing planning. It is a misnomer to state that the coveted trophy has been won after 67 years. To put it in correct perspective J&K has won its maiden Ranji Trophy in its maiden appearance after a yawning wait of 67 years.
The Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) became a member of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 1957 and made its Ranji Trophy debut in the 1959-60 season.
Despite abundant natural talent, growth remained constrained for decades due to infrastructure gaps, administrative instability, and limited exposure. The team registered its first Ranji Trophy match victory only in 1982-83 and, while reaching knockout stages on select occasions, had never secured the championship.
Moment the trophy was won, the social and print media started a debate of who should get the credit for this marvellous achievement? Many names were floated starting from Late Bishan Singh Bedi and a few others who were responsible for the training of the team before June 2021. In this race to give credit the main question that remain unanswered was why the trophy was not won during their tenures? A lot of effort goes into making the Champions. The Management, the selectors and the coaching staff has to be in sync. Alas, the absence of this sync in the past prevented the efforts of the coaches to translate into victory. Cricket and the cricketers are supreme has to be the bottom line to create an ecosystem of transparency, accountability, financial prudence, infra-development & talent scouting. Only then a strong foundation for making champions can be laid.
Woefully, the cricket in J&K suffered from many ills. The cricket rather being played in the cricket fields was being played in the Courts. This culture severely hampered the development and growth of cricket.
Following prolonged administrative challenges, the Hon’ble High Court of Jammu & Kashmir entrusted the BCCI with overseeing JKCA operations in June 2021. The mandate included restoring governance standards, ensuring transparency, strengthening infrastructure, and facilitating credible elections.
In June 2021, the BCCI appointed a dedicated supervisory panel to oversee cricketing affairs in the region. This marked the beginning of structured institutional revival and the introduction of professional governance standards.
Soon thereafter, BCCI appointed a Sub-Committee to run and administer JKCA and work towards the implementation of the mandate given by the Honourable High Court. The Sub-Committee overseeing JKCA undertook structured planning and prepared a clear roadmap aimed at building a Ranji Trophy-winning senior men’s team.
Mr. Jay Shah, then BCCI Secretary took keen personal interest in the affairs of JKCA, particularly in accelerating modern infrastructure development. In 2022, he became the first BCCI secretary to visit JKCA at Jammu for an on-ground assessment of facilities and operational challenges. The BCCI took sustained measures to modernise cricketing infrastructure and strengthen operational systems in Jammu & Kashmir. Key initiatives included: Announcement of an all-weather indoor training facility at Jammu, enabling uninterrupted year-round preparation; Initiation of the process for development of an international cricket stadium at Hiranagar, Jammu, with land to be provided by the State Government under the planned Arun Jaitley Stadium project. Acceleration of infrastructure upgrades and operational strengthening to align facilities with national domestic standards. These measures significantly enhanced institutional credibility, training quality, and player confidence.
In the same year, the Sub Committee undertook visionary planning and prepared a road map for promotion and development of cricket in the region. To scout grass root level talent, the talent hunt at district level was started. Other key strategic measures included:
* A conscious decision to restrict players’ participation in shorter formats so they could focus on red-ball cricket.
* Strengthening long-format skill development and match temperament.
* Preparation of red clay wickets at Jammu, replicating competitive first-class conditions and improving technical readiness.
These decisions translated into major victories against established teams such as:
* Mumbai cricket team
* Baroda cricket team
* Madhya Pradesh cricket team
* Bengal cricket team
Including wins on their respective home grounds, demonstrating technical maturity and competitive resilience.
In the intervening years, the teams from other State Associations were invited to play matches and our teams were also sent to those States on reciprocal basis. The teams were fielded in national level inter-state tournaments hosted by different Associations to as far as Tamilnadu, Bhuvaneshwar, Cuttack etc. Number of players were selected to represent in Zonal tournaments. All these measures provided valuable match experience to our players. In 2025, another historic decision was taken to introduce U-14 Inter school tournaments.
In August 2025, Jammu faced unprecedented floods that posed a major setback to cricketing infrastructure. The entire Jammu ground infrastructure was submerged under 7-8 feet of silt, severely affecting playing surfaces and facilities.
However, due to the sustained financial support of the BCCI and the 24×7 dedicated efforts of Team JKCA, restoration work was undertaken immediately. Through coordinated planning, technical expertise, and relentless commitment, the ground was restored to full operational condition in a record time of 40 days.
* Every member of the senior team remained focused on preparation.
* The coaching staff ensured uninterrupted training discipline.
* The team was conditioned to perform across varied wicket conditions and challenging environments.
The professional excellence of the coaching and support unit played a vital role in the championship victory. The team was guided by Head Coach Ajay Sharma, Bowling Coach Krishna Kumar, and Fielding Coach Dishant Yagnik, supported by Trainer Sunny Verma and Physiotherapist Chirag Pandya, whose collective expertise, preparation protocols, and athlete management were instrumental in delivering consistent high-level performance throughout the season.
This extraordinary recovery effort reinforced a culture of resilience, professionalism, and collective responsibility.
Outcomes:
* 2019-20: Promotion from the Plate Group to the Elite Group, marking entry into India’s top domestic competitive tier.
* Emergence of nationally recognised players such as Yudhvir Singh, Abid Mushtaq, Sunil Kumar, Abdul Samad, and Umran Malik, Vanshaj Sharma, Shubham Pundir reflecting strengthened grassroots systems.
* Current Season: Jammu & Kashmir secured its maiden Ranji Trophy title, completing a disciplined and historic campaign marked by consistent performances across league and knockout stages. The team demonstrated exceptional bowling discipline, resilient batting under pressure, and the ability to defeat strong opponents in both home and away conditions a culmination of strategic preparation, red-ball focus, infrastructure investment, and institutional resilience.
The journey of Jammu & Kashmir cricket stands as a powerful example of how structured opportunity, sustained institutional support, holistic management and long-term commitment can convert potential into historic achievement.
The maiden Ranji Trophy triumph of Jammu & Kashmir is not merely a sporting milestone; it is a testament to reform, resilience, and the transformative impact of committed governance. It affirms that with transparent systems, modern infrastructure, strategic planning, and collective resolve, even historically constrained regions can emerge as national champions. This is a collective victory of sports lovers of Jammu & Kashmir with a clear message for those who consider self above the Sport. It is because of the Sport and the sportsmen that the Sports Associations exist and not the other way round. Let’s pledge to rid the sports from any type of external interferences in case we aim to be a power to reckon with in the field of sports.
(The author is the member of BCCI appointed Sub-Committee to run, manage and administer JKCA)
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