India’s bowling maestro Mohammad Shami is mentoring Jammu and Kashmir’s attack with a no-nonsense strategy just before their landmark Ranji Trophy final. In a BCCI-posted clip on X, he tells them: ‘Swing, length, speed—forget it all. The 22 yards don’t matter. Eyes on the stumps alone.’
This comes after J&K scripted history by beating Bengal in the semis, powered by Aqib Nabi Dar. The key bowler snared nine wickets there, following his 12-wicket demolition of Madhya Pradesh in the quarters. Aqib’s consistency has transformed J&K from underdogs to finalists.
Semifinal highlights reveal the drama. Bengal’s 328 looked imposing, but J&K hit back with 302—Abdul Samad’s 82 the standout, backed by Paras Dogra’s 58. Then came the masterclass: Aqib and Sunil Kumar each bagged four wickets to restrict Bengal to 99 in their second innings.
A target of 126 was negotiated smoothly, with Vanshaj Sharma unbeaten on 43 and Abdul Samad adding 30 off 27. Shami’s advice distills years of international experience into a potent reminder: amid final frenzy, simplicity wins. J&K’s bowlers, embracing this, could stun the nation.