In a bold show of confidence, Iltija Mufti has preemptively celebrated Jammu and Kashmir’s potential Ranji Trophy 2025-26 triumph. Posting on X, the political figure and daughter of Mehbooba Mufti praised the team’s grit, spotlighting star bowler Aaqib Nabi’s heroics. ‘Pre-congratulations to J&K for their first Ranji win. Shoutout to Aaqib Nabi’s tournament-dominating show,’ she declared.
The high-stakes final against Karnataka in Hubli hangs in balance, yet J&K’s first-innings advantage makes them favorites. Opting to bat after winning the toss, they racked up 584 runs. Shubham Pundir’s century (121) anchored the innings, supported by Yawar Hasan Khan’s 88, Sahil Lotra’s 72, and half-centuries from Kanhaiya Wadhavan, skipper Paras Dogra, and Abdul Samad—all scoring 70, 70, and 61 respectively.
Karnataka’s response crumbled under pressure despite Mayank Agarwal’s gritty 160. Aaqib Nabi’s five-wicket haul (5/54) restricted them to 293, handing J&K a 291-run lead. A draw would crown J&K champions per tournament rules, amplifying the drama.
J&K’s fairy-tale run marks their debut final. Nabi’s express pace has been pivotal—he dismantled Madhya Pradesh with 8 wickets in the quarters and Bengal with 9 in the semis, chipping in 42 runs too, bagging Player of the Match awards each time.
Iltija’s endorsement underscores the match’s cultural significance for J&K, a region where cricket triumphs offer rare joy. As play continues, the team’s resilience symbolizes hope, with victory promising to etch their names in Indian domestic cricket lore and inspire the youth back home.