Aquib Nabi emerged as the undisputed star, his nine-wicket haul complemented by a gritty 42-run knock. This all-round brilliance not only sealed the win but also fetched him the Player of the Match honors. Recall his quarterfinal heroics: seven wickets in the first innings and five in the second against Karnataka, propelling J&K forward.

Match summary tells a tale of comeback. Bengal’s 328 set a challenging tone, met by J&K’s 302 all out. Then came the masterclass in the second innings – Nabi and Sunil Kumar skittled Bengal for 99, enforcing a target of 126. Vanshaj Sharma’s unbeaten 43 and Abdul Samad’s 30 not out guided the chase home with four wickets intact.

The victory sparked widespread celebrations, with Mehbooba Mufti, former CM, leading the cheers on social media. ‘Congratulations on this splendid win! You’ve scripted history with patience, courage, and trust,’ she wrote on X, calling it a golden chapter in J&K’s sporting saga.

This milestone victory underscores the team’s growth amid adversities. The final opponent will be decided by the Karnataka vs Uttarakhand result, with the summit clash slated for February 24. For J&K fans, dreams of Ranji glory are tantalizingly close.