Sachin Padha
Jammu & Kashmir is rarely in the headlines for sporting achievements. However, that changed thanks to our exceptional para-archers, Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar, who created history at both the Olympics and the Asian Games. Their remarkable performances brought immense pride to the region and made the name of our state resonate across the world. Now, with Jammu & Kashmir emerged as the winner of the prestigious Ranji Trophy 2025/26, our state has carved a special place for itself in the cricketing world as well. This historic achievement will ensure that J&K is recognized not only for its resilience and talent but also for its growing prominence in Indian cricket.
How J&K Scripted The History In Indian Cricket:
In the past, the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) was often criticized and had gained a reputation for administrative irregularities. However, a significant transformation began in 2015, when Mithun Manhas rejoined the J&K Ranji team as a player. His experience, professionalism, and leadership brought renewed discipline and direction to the side. Later, as a consultant for JKCA, he played an important role in restructuring and guiding the system toward greater transparency and performance-oriented management. Now Mithun Manhas is the BCCI President.
Previously, Manhas played first-class cricket for Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir and later played in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings, Pune Warriors India, and Delhi Daredevils. Manhas left J&K in late 90s and joined Delhi Ranji Team. He was the captain of the Delhi side for most of the new millennium. He was at the helm when Delhi ended their championship drought in 2007-08, although Gautam Gambhir led the side in the semi-final and final. He scored 921 runs in that first-class season at 57.57.
The legendary Bishan Singh Bedi served as the coach of the Jammu & Kashmir and under the guidance of the late Bedi, Parvez Rasool refined his bowling skills and emerged as a premier off-spin bowler. His dedication and consistent performances earned him a place in the Indian national team, making him the first cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to wear the Indian blue jersey in June 2014 for ODI against Bangladesh and for T20I against England in 2017. Following Bedi’s tenure, Sunil Joshi took over as coach of the J&K team. Under his leadership, the team achieved a historic milestone by defeating the formidable Mumbai cricket team at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in December 2014, a victory that marked a defining moment in J&K’s cricketing journey.
During that period, the JKCA was widely criticized for administrative irregularities and mismanagement. It is often noted that the late Bishan Singh Bedi was not paid his salary while serving as the coach of the J&K team. Despite this, he continued to discharge his duties with utmost honesty, professionalism, and dedication, never publicly demanding his dues. At the same time, the players also faced significant challenges. There was no proper system for daily allowances (DA), structured match fees, or adequate incentives. Financial instability and lack of administrative support made the journey even more difficult for the cricketers. Yet, in the face of these hardships, both the coach and the players remained committed to the game. Their perseverance and integrity during those difficult years laid the foundation for the transformation and success that J&K cricket later achieved.
The fundamental and grassroot level changes started when Mithun Manhas rejoined his state in 2015 and he vowed to make J&K as one of the premier states in the Cricket field. Once there were two J&K teams that arrived for a BCCI game and one can imagine the apathy of the J&K state in Cricket field. Manhas created the structure and gave the direction to administration to work in the right direction. He appointed Ajay Sharma (Delhi’s Ranji Veteran), famously known as the “King of Centuries” in the Ranji Trophy, as the coach of the J&K team. Ajay Sharma’s vast domestic experience and deep understanding of red-ball cricket added technical solidity and mental toughness to the squad. In addition, Manhas brought seasoned Ranji veteran Paras Dogra from Himachal Pradesh to lead the J&K side as captain. Dogra’s experience, temperament, and consistent performances provided stability and direction to the team. Mithun Manhas gave them a free hand and complete autonomy to shape the future of J&K cricket. He trusted their experience and allowed them the full freedom to groom local talent and transforming raw rookies into disciplined, confident professionals.
The results of this long-term vision soon became clearly visible. J&K stunned the formidable Delhi cricket team at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium, announcing their arrival with authority. They then went on to defeat the strong Madhya Pradesh cricket team in the quarterfinal at Indore; a team widely regarded as one of the most consistent sides in domestic cricket. The next challenge was even tougher. J&K faced the powerful Bengal cricket team, featuring international stars like Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep. Despite the strength of their opposition and playing on Bengal’s home turf at Kalyani Stadium, J&K displayed immense confidence, disciplined bowling, and fearless batting to secure yet another historic victory. These consecutive triumphs were not mere upsets – they were statements. J&K had evolved into a fearless, balanced, and battle-hardened unit capable of defeating the giants of Indian domestic cricket on their own grounds.
For the people of Jammu & Kashmir, the team had already become champions after defeating three strong sides on their respective home grounds. Victories against the likes of Delhi cricket team, Madhya Pradesh cricket team, and Bengal cricket team were monumental achievements that filled the entire region with pride. But the players were in a different mindset. They were not satisfied with moral victories; they wanted to script history. With unwavering confidence, fearless intent, and a champion’s temperament, J&K went one step further and defeated the mighty Karnataka cricket team on their home turf to lift the prestigious Ranji Trophy. It was not just a victory; it was a statement. From underdogs to champions, J&K completed their historic journey in style, etching their name permanently in Indian cricket history.
Abdul Samad, known for his explosive and hard-hitting batting, now finds himself playing a Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka cricket team, a match that feels like redemption. Back in February 2020, during the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at Jammu, J&K had the upper hand in the first innings. Karnataka had scored 206 runs, and J&K were well placed in reply. At just 18 years old, Samad was at the crease when the team needed calm and composure. With J&K only 14 runs short of taking the crucial first-innings lead and three wickets still in hand, Samad attempted an aggressive shot. The slow left-arm orthodox spinner Jagadeesha Suchith bowled a flighted delivery, tempting him into a big hit. Samad went for a six but was caught at the long-on boundary. At that moment, J&K were 192-8. His dismissal shifted the momentum. The team eventually got all out for 192, missing the first-innings lead by just 14 runs, a golden opportunity lost. Six years later, the stage was set once again against Karnataka cricket team – but this time, it was a different Abdul Samad. No longer the fearless yet inexperienced teenager, Samad returned as a mature and composed batter. The hard lessons of 2020 had shaped him into a more responsible red-ball cricketer. In the historic 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season, he emerged as J&K’s highest run-scorer, amassing an impressive 748 runs. His transformation was a testament to growth, patience, and self-belief. What Samad needed was guidance in temperament and composure – the true essence of red-ball cricket. That guidance came from head coach Ajay Sharma, whose vast domestic experience helped refine Samad’s shot selection, concentration, and match awareness. At the same time, captain Paras Dogra provided steady leadership and constant encouragement throughout the season, ensuring that Samad channeled his aggression into calculated dominance rather than reckless stroke play. The result was evident – a cricketer once remembered for a costly mistake had now evolved into the backbone of J&K’s batting lineup, ready to script redemption on the grandest stage.
In Test cricket, championships are often built on the shoulders of bowlers that ones who take 20 wickets and turn matches in their team’s favor. For Jammu & Kashmir, that match-winner was Auqib Nabi. During the historic 2025/26 Ranji Trophy season, Auqib carried the bowling attack with remarkable consistency and determination. In previous season (2024/25), he took 44 wickets to become the second highest Wicket-taker and this season he claimed an outstanding 60 wickets, finishing as the highest wicket-taker of the season. Nabi became the 5th bowler to take 100+ wickets in two successive editions of the Ranji Trophy. Time and again, he broke crucial partnerships, delivered under pressure, and set the tone for J&K’s dominance. His performances have not gone unnoticed. By consistently delivering at the highest level of domestic cricket, Auqib Nabi has been knocking on the doors of the national selectors. On a flat track in Hubballi, Auqib Nabi produced a spell of extraordinary skill, claiming five wickets and dismantling Karnataka’s strong batting line-up. His performance gave J&K a commanding first-innings lead and brought the team to the brink of history. That wasn’t ordinary bowling, but it was a display of special skill and temperament. He kept things simple: consistent line and length, attacking the fourth-stump channel relentlessly. The batters didn’t just make mistakes in the final, they struggled against that discipline throughout the entire 2025/26 season. It was a masterclass in controlled, intelligent fast bowling. The people of Jammu & Kashmir are filled with hope and pride, believing that it is only a matter of time before he earns the opportunity to wear the Indian jersey and represent the country on the international stage.
I sincerely hope that, following this historic victory, the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association takes decisive steps to build better cricketing infrastructure across the region. Improved stadium facilities, modern training academies, quality practice wickets, fitness and rehabilitation centers, and structured grassroots programs can transform the sporting landscape of Jammu & Kashmir. Such developments would not only sustain the current success but also inspire young boys and girls to take up cricket professionally.
This triumph should serve as a turning point and a foundation upon which a strong and sustainable cricketing ecosystem is built. With the right infrastructure and support, the youth of J&K can dream bigger, aim higher, and continue to make the region proud on national and international platforms.
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