From the valleys of struggle to the pinnacle of domestic cricket, Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy win is a saga of resilience. Drawing with Karnataka in the final on first-innings lead, they ended a 67-year quest that began in 1959.
Initial decades were brutal: bigger teams toyed with them, infrastructure was nonexistent, and the playing XI lacked firepower. The 90s saw more of the same—valiant efforts, inevitable losses.
Bishan Singh Bedi’s arrival as coach sparked change. His motivational mastery and technical drills built warriors, leading to a quarterfinal berth in 2013-14—a historic first.
Captain Parvez Rasool’s 2014-15 campaign peaked with a shock victory over Mumbai, catapulting J&K into spotlight. Post-Article 370 reforms in 2019 revolutionized cricket: fair selections, ample funds, new turf pitches, training hubs, and BCCI-backed coaching.
BCCI chief Mithun Manhas overhauled the J&K Cricket Association, appointing Ajay Sharma coach in 2022. Sharma instilled belief and battle-readiness, with Paras Dogra’s leadership steering them to 2025-26 triumph.
Aquib Nabi Dar dominated with 60 wickets across 10 games, backed by Shubham Pundir’s blade and Dogra’s savvy. This milestone isn’t an endpoint but a launchpad, heralding J&K’s golden chapter in cricket lore.