IN ONE massive leap, Jammu & Kashmir have transcended many a fencing to perch their flag on India’s domestic cricket and making an impact beyond sports. Their maiden Ranji Trophy title, certainly the biggest for J&K cricket, has brought a tectonic shift in Indian cricket. It has forced the erstwhile powerhouses to redraw their strategies and it has pumped in copious quantity of hope in the smaller teams plying their trade in domestic cricket. J&K are the toast of the cricketing world and a superlative story for the State where stability has steadily replaced unrest. India’s domestic cricket has seen many such David Vs Goliath battles over the past decade or so as supposedly weak or also-ran teams have scripted wins by clinching the premier domestic tournament.

 

Underdogs Vidarbha did it thrice while Saurashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat have taken their turn to win the Ranji Trophy against popular expectations. In fact, in the last 10 seasons, Ranji Trophy has seen five different winners underlining the growth of smaller teams in domestic cricket. J&K have put icing on the cake by crafting a famous win against all odds. Whether it can be termed as a tectonic shift in domestic cricket is a matter of debate but the manner in which J&K played in this season and also in the final against a star-studded Karnataka makes them an emerging force worth respect. The change in J&K’s fortunes came at a gradual pace as the players developed self-confidence under the guidance of seasoned mentors like late Bishen Singh Bedi, Ajay Sharma, Irfan Pathan and recently Mithun Manhas over the years. From being a weak outfit ready to be exploited for personal records by top teams, J&K have traversed a difficult journey to this point.

 

The last couple of seasons proved that the team holds the capability of standing up against powerhouses. A few giant-killing acts helped J&K develop belief that they belong to the top tier. This season has become a saga for the ages as their hard work has reaped rich dividends. Seasoned warrior Paras Dogra shaped the team into a crack unit with players rising to the occasion against difficult opponents. The success of young pacer Aquib Nabi has forced the selectors to wake up and count him for national debut soon. Nabi was exceptional this season, bagging 60 wickets in 10 games to top the charts. His spell in the final on a pitch full of runs was a reminder of his tremendous talent. J&K rode on such gritty performers to script their own fairy-tale.

 

The historic triumph for J&K is not just a sporting story, it is a living document of how a stable and assured environment can nurture talent without fear. The Union Territory has seen a spate of development since the Special Status was removed. All hurdles in overall development were swatted aside in one stroke by the historic decision by the Centre in August 2019. It cleared way for modern facilities and handsome financial aid for the development of sports in the region. The change made the youth opt for career over unrest and the end result came in Hubbali on the last day of February. J&K are now the top!