J&K keep tryst with destiny, lift maiden Ranji Trophy title

HUBBALLI: It was 2:11 pm, Feb 28, 2026. The moment will forever be etched in Jammu and Kashmir’s cricketing lore. After keeping the champagne on ice for nearly three days, the first-time finalists became the 19th team to win the Ranji Trophy, lifting the silverware in emphatic fashion at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here on Saturday. Having piled up 584 in the first innings and bowling Karnataka out for 293, J&K declared their second innings at 342/4 to shut the door firmly on the more fancied, eighttime champions and deny the hosts a ninth title.Although disappointed with their home team, the large crowd rose to acknowledge Paras Dogra and his men, a team that had batted, bowled and believed their way into history. If Shubham Pundir’s firstinnings century set the tone, the final day belonged to Qamran Iqbal (160 not out) and Sahil Lotra (101 not out), who piled on the agony for Karnataka as the hosts went wicketless on the final morning.The celebrations were heartfelt and unrestrained. With Ramadan and travel logistics keeping families away, a small group of supporters from the J&K community in Karnataka filled the void. Just before the start of the final session, the team management hired local dhol artists, something usually banned at Indian cricket venues. As the beats echoed around the ground, confetti and fireworks by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) turned the modest venue into a festival arena.The moment Dogra and Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal completed the customary handshake, J&K players streamed onto the field. Iqbal and Lotra were soon swallowed by jubilant teammates before the squad broke into dance as the dhols thundered. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who chose to sit near the team dressing room rather than in the protocol enclosure, applauded and captured the celebration of a historic day for the state on his phone.This triumph was more than just a title. It was the reward for years of persistence by a team that grew together under head coach Ajay Sharma and refused to fade after repeated heartbreaks. J&K had reached the quarterfinals in 2013-14 and 2019-20 and come within one run of the final last season against Kerala. That pain fuelled a campaign built on resilience and quiet confidence.Season-long spearhead Auqib Nabi called it the fulfilment of a childhood dream. “It’s a dream we’ve lived for many years. This victory is not just for the team but for J&K,” he said.For 41-year-old skipper Paras Dogra, the moment carried the weight of a lifetime. “I’ve waited 25 years for this. I can’t explain what it feels like to hold this trophy,” he said. Leader, mentor and fatherfigure rolled into one, Dogra kept reminding his players through the season: “This time will not come again.” They listened and delivered in emphatic fashion.As the players soaked in the moment, many admitted the magnitude of the achievement had not yet sunk in. But one thing was certain — Jammu and Kashmir’s first Ranji Trophy triumph was a story of belief, patience and heart.