Jammu and Kashmir cricket team has done the impossible, dethroning Karnataka to win their first-ever Ranji Trophy crown. The final at Hubli turned into a celebration of grit and talent, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah showering praise via social media.
‘Kar dikhaya, well done Jammu & Kashmir,’ Abdullah wrote on X, sharing euphoric footage of the team’s joy. From Srinagar to Jammu, streets buzzed with festive fervor as the state embraced this historic feat.
Recapping the thriller: J&K, after winning the toss, chose to bat and racked up 584 in the first dig. Standout performances came from Shubham Pundir (121), Yawar Hasan Khan (88), Sahil Lotra (72), Kanhaiya Wadhavan (70), and captain Paras Dogra (70). Karnataka managed only 293, propped up by Mayank Agarwal’s defiant 160.
Bowling maestro Aquib Nabi ripped through with 5 wickets, supported by Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh’s brace each, and Sahil Lotra’s one. With a massive 291-run lead, J&K’s second innings saw them declare at 342/4. Kamran Iqbal’s unbeaten 160 and Sahil Lotra’s 101 formed a match-winning unbroken stand of 197.
Draw declared, J&K crowned champions on first-innings superiority. Pundir grabbed Player of the Match, Nabi the tournament award. This win transcends sport, symbolizing hope and determination in a region long yearning for such glory.