Rajesh Dhar
Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team’s stunning victory over defending champion and 42-time champion mighty Mumbai, followed by a brilliant performance against formidable Baroda in the last group match of the season took the world by surprise.
J&K now looks like a different team and it seems that the team can beat in the best in world on their day. The team is on its way to make it to the historic top four at the Ranji Trophy across the country. J&K team’s fantastic performance lured me towards J&K Ranji Trophy history.
The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Ranji Trophy cricket team has evolved over the years, from being one of the weaker teams in the country to becoming a potential threat for the formidable rival teams across the country.
The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) came into existence in 1957. It was initiated by prominent cricket clubs in the Kashmir valley, primarily the Kashmir Cricket Club, headed by Late Ram Chand Tickoo, who pushed for the formation of the association. He did a commendable job of getting together the clubs to form an Association. It was in the year 1957 that J&K Cricket Association got registered with the Registrar of Societies vide its Reg. No S-41 dated 29-08-1957 and got its constitution registered with the society.
The J&K cricket team first played in the Ranji Trophy in 1959-60 season, while the team’s first victory was in 1982-83, when they beat Services by four wickets in a 3-day Ranji Trophy match. This team was captained by fast bowling all-rounder Mehboob Iqbal, who had made a significant contribution in this match (7 wickets in 1st innings) along with batter Vinod Khajuria (93 runs in 2nd innings), left-arm spinner Ashender Koul (5 wickets in 2nd innings) and wicketkeeper batter Parvaiz Qaiser (Brief but solid and valuable knock at the crucial juncture). The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) at that time was headed by experienced and energetic Sh SDA Drabu.
With continuous efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), J&K Senior Men’s team continued to take part in the Ranji Trophy but not with much success. However, J&K again began to taste the success when cricketing stalwarts like batting all-rounder Ashwani Gupta, fast bowler Abdul Qayoom and likes joined the team during mid to late 80s. Then came the era of Kavaljeets and Bagals who possessed all that was required to blossom at the national scene and guide J&K Ranji team to occasional victories.
However, the militancy and the factionalism in the Association served as a death-knell for cricket in J&K and a stumbling-block for the cricketers to flourish.
But the coaches of great repute like Devendra Arora, Jyanti Lal and Parthasarathi Sharma hired by the Association from time to time made some difference in the fortunes of the players and the team, however, it was the quartet of former legendary cricketers who actually changed the shape of J&K Cricket and the cricketers rather who guided J&K cricketers to carve a space on the country’s cricketing map including Ajay Jadeja (2021-02), Bishen Singh Bedi (2011-13), Sunil Joshi (2013-14), , Irfan Pathan (2018-19) and now Ajay Sharma.
It was under the mentorship of former Test Cricketer Ajay Jadeja in 2001-02 season that Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team led by Abdul Qayoom qualified for the knockouts for the first time in history. Apart from infusing mental toughness in the players, Jadeja helped the team to play as a cohesive unit.
The J&K Ranji Trophy team has become more successful from 2011 onwards after legendary Bishen Singh Bedi took over the reigns of J&K cricket as the Head Coach. He inculcated discipline and self-esteem among the team members and made them believe that they could beat the best in the country. Bedi was instrumental in guiding Parvez Rasool to represent Team India and become first ever cricketer from Jammu and Kashmir to don the India cap. Apart from Rasool, Bedi shaped the careers of a big bunch of J&K’s talented cricketers including Ian Dev Singh, Ram Dayal and likes.
In 2013-14, the team qualified for the Ranji Trophy knockout stage for the first time in over a decade after 2001-02. The team led by Parvez Rasool defeated Mumbai at Wankhade Stadium in 2014-15. Talented Shubham Khajuria was the standout performer, slamming a magnificent century in the first innings and 78 in the second innings. Apart from Shubham, Ram Dayal (5 wkts), Umar Nazir (4 wkts) and Ian Dev Singh (70 runs) were the other major contributors in that match.
However, it was Irfan Pathan’s tenure with the Jammu and Kashmir team (2018-2019-20), which can be termed as the golden period of J&K cricket, making the team qualify for the knockouts in 2019-20 season, besides unearthing the raw talent. Talented Abdul Samad, promising Rasikh Salam, gritty Vivrant Sharma and gutsy Musaif Ajaz are all the products of Irfan Pathan. He was instrumental in taking the best out of each player and making the team win consistently. His dynamism and energy was matchless. Each and every player enjoyed the game under his mentorship.
Now, J&K Ranji Trophy team’s performance and victories against strong teams across the country this season have created havoc and the thumping victory against defending champions and 42-champion mighty Mumbai has scripted history and set a benchmark for the youngsters. The fast bowling quartet of Auqib Nabi, Rasikh Salam, Umar Nazir and Yudhvir Singh have shown that they are the best in the country and the all-rounders–Abid Mushtaq and Nasir Lone have been instrumental. Shubham Khajuria, the backbone of the team’s batting has scored tons of runs and the youngsters namely Abdul Samad, Vivrant Sharma, Yawar Hassan and Kanhaiya Wadhawan have shown the promise.
All in all, J&K cricket has evolved through the years and from being one of the weakest teams in the country, has become a potential threat for the rivals. The secret behind the recent success has been the utter professionalism and a big number of practice matches at home and exposure tours, besides a sheer-dint of hardwork by a talented bunch of cricketers. Who knows that J&K emerges as the Ranji Trophy champion this season!
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