The current Jammu and Kashmir team, led by the inspiring Paras Dogra, achieved a monumental feat by reaching the semi-finals for the first time in 56 years earlier this month after beating Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-finals. While celebrating the success, they kept their feet on the ground and prepared for a tough semi-final against Bengal in Kalyani.
During the semi-final, Jammu and Kashmir showed why they are no longer giant killers and have transformed themselves into a team to beat, at least in red ball cricket. They found themselves in a huge crisis at 13/3 in their first innings after dismissing Bengal for 329. However, captain Dogra and youngster Abdul Samad revived the ship with a counter-attack of 147 runs.
They once again found their backs against the wall after Mohammed Shami’s fiery spell in the first session on Day 3, but pacers Auqib Nabi and Yudhvir Singh Charak forged a brave 64-run stand for the ninth wicket. Jammu and Kashmir were eventually dismissed for 302, giving Bengal a 26-run lead.
What followed was a spectacular spell of fast bowling from Nabi, Charak and Sunil Kumar as they finished off Bengal’s strong batting line-up for a paltry 99.
Jammu and Kashmir lost two early wickets in their chase of 126 but Vanshaj Sharma, Abdul Samad and Shubham Pundir played crucial knocks to take the team to a first-ever final.
Cricket in the ‘Paradise on Earth’ was going through a prolonged period of crisis with mismanagement and corruption. However, strategic leadership and focus on discovering and supporting talented cricketers orchestrated the renaissance.
In 2021, current BCCI president Mithun Manhas became one of the administrators of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA). The administration went through a period of turmoil, with mismanagement at its height and allegations of corruption. Manhas, together with his colleagues, brought transparency and vision.
“It was not that easy at that time when I took over as administrator. The then BCCI secretary Jay Shah gave me a free hand and told me to do whatever it takes to get Jammu and Kashmir cricket back on track,” Manhas said after the historic win against Bengal.
One of the main reasons why Jammu and Kashmir has flourished against top teams like Mumbai and Bengal in recent years is their strategy of pre-acclimatization to the conditions they have to play in.
“Both the Harbux Stadium in Srinagar and the College Ground in Jammu have 10 center strips, each with both red and black ground pitches. We are the only north Indian state with both black and red ground strips,” Manhas said.
“When we played Mumbai last year and beat them, the team had traveled and practiced in Mumbai at least a week before the match,” Manhas recalled.
Credit must be given to Manhas’ former Delhi teammate Ajay Sharma, who has done a great job as head coach. He has given the team belief and supported them to the utmost. Paras Dogra, who burst onto the field at the age of 41 to save runs, should be a huge source of motivation for the youngsters in the Jammu and Kashmir setup.
It is a good time to highlight the efforts of Parvez Rasool, the valley’s first-ever superstar. The spin-bowling all-rounder was the first player from Jammu and Kashmir to earn an IPL contract and a call-up for India. Children in the region started dreaming of taking up cricket as a career after seeing how Rasool’s hard work translated into fame, recognition and success. “He gave J&K cricket a facelift. He was the heartbeat of the region,” Irfan Pathan had stated while praising Rasool.
As we celebrate Jammu and Kashmir’s success, it is also important not to forget Irfan Pathan’s contribution as a player and mentor to the team in 2018. The former India all-rounder not only mentored the youngsters and helped them hone their skills but also emphasized on discipline and raised the competitive level of the team. Pathan even went to rural areas and injected professionalism. The Baroda native had lucrative offers at the time from the likes of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and Abu Dhabi T10 League, but he opted for Jammu and Kashmir, prioritizing the opportunity to develop young talents in the region.
“I have seen it firsthand: a left-arm pacer from Kupwara, boys from Baramulla… they have the fire. What is missing is exposure and proper training,” Pathan, whose time in the colors of Jammu and Kashmir ended abruptly due to security reasons, had said at an event about a year ago. He will now beam with pride as he could play an important role in the glory of Jammu and Kashmir.
While coach Ajay Sharma has always prioritized team matches over individuals, the performances of Auqib Nabi and Abdul Samad deserve special mention.
Nabi has been exceptional with the ball this season. The right-arm pacer has collected 53 wickets in nine matches at a mind-boggling average of 12.72. Meanwhile, Abdul Samad has amassed 655 runs in 13 innings at an average of 59.54.
Both played key roles in the semi-final in Kalyani. Nabi won the Player of the Match award after taking nine wickets and scoring 42. While first international call-ups could be on the horizon for both, they will have their sights set on the Ranji Trophy final, which starts on February 24.
For now, the whole of Jammu and Kashmir will enjoy February 18 and celebrate till late night as this is not just another final that they have made it to. In the first five decades of playing the Ranji Trophy, Jammu and Kashmir recorded just 32 wins in 301 matches. They are now just one win away from the pinnacle of domestic cricket in India.
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