Jammu and Kashmir cricket has etched its name in Ranji Trophy history by defeating Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs and qualifying for the semifinals for the first time ever. Played at Indore’s iconic Holkar Stadium, this quarterfinal clash showcased J&K’s grit and determination against a formidable opponent.
Setting the tone early, Madhya Pradesh captain chose to field after winning the toss. J&K’s first innings yielded 194, powered by Shubham Khajuria’s fluent 60 and captain Paras Dogra’s steady 33.
Kuldeep Sen spearheaded MP’s response with five wickets, supported by Kumar Kartikeya’s three and Aryan Pandey’s two.
MP’s batting reply was dismal at 152 all out, 42 runs short of J&K’s total. Yash Dubey’s 58 was the highlight, but Aqib Nabi’s devastating 7/?? dismantled them, with Sunil Kumar adding three wickets.
In their second dig, J&K amassed 248, thanks to Vanshraj Sharma’s 54, Abid Mushtaq (41), Abdul Samad (32), Sunil Kumar (26), and Kanhaiya Wadhwan (23). Kuldeep Sen (4), Venkatesh Iyer (3), and Ramveer Gurjar (3) struck back for MP.
The 42-run lead translated into a 291-run target. MP managed 234, with Saransh Jain’s 64 standing out amid the collapse. Aqib Nabi’s second five-wicket haul (5/??), Abid Mushtaq’s three, and single wickets from Sunil Kumar and Yudvir Singh sealed the deal.
Player of the Match Aqib Nabi’s 12 wickets across both innings propelled J&K to their maiden semifinal, a testament to emerging talent from the region ready to challenge India’s cricket powerhouses.