Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand Ready for Ranji Trophy Semifinals

Kolkata- Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand have made history by reaching the Ranji Trophy semifinals for the first time, setting the stage for exciting clashes against Bengal and Karnataka respectively.

Jammu and Kashmir secured their spot in the semifinals with a remarkable 56-run victory over Madhya Pradesh, marking their deepest run in the competition since their debut in 1959-60.

Seamer Auqib Nabi played a crucial role in this victory, claiming impressive match figures of 12 for 110. Nabi has been a standout performer this season with 46 wickets, leading a disciplined bowling attack. Left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar has also been instrumental with 22 wickets.

Abdul Samad has been the leading run-scorer for Jammu and Kashmir with 543 runs, while captain Paras Dogra has contributed 484 runs, stabilizing the innings in pressure situations.

On the other hand, Bengal, led by Sudip Kumar Gharami’s monumental 299 in the quarterfinal, will pose a tough challenge for Jammu and Kashmir. Bengal’s top order has been solid with Gharami amassing 651 runs this season, supported by Sumanta Gupta, Anustup Majumdar, and Abhimanyu Easwaran.

With a strong bowling unit featuring Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, and Akash Deep, Bengal will have the home advantage playing at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani.

Meanwhile, in the other semifinal at Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium, Uttarakhand will face eight-time champions Karnataka. Uttarakhand’s rapid rise in domestic cricket continued with an impressive win over Jharkhand in the quarterfinals.

Spinner Mayank Mishra has been a standout performer for Uttarakhand with 52 wickets, while all-rounder Jagadeesha Suchith has contributed significantly with both bat and ball. Captain Kunal Chandela and Bhupen Lalwani have also been among the runs for Uttarakhand.

Karnataka, on the other hand, defeated Mumbai in the quarterfinals and are eyeing their ninth Ranji Trophy title. With a strong batting lineup including Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Smaran Ravichandran, and Karun Nair, Karnataka bring pedigree and depth to the semifinal.

KL Rahul’s form will be crucial for Karnataka, supported by a potent bowling attack featuring Shreyas Gopal, Vidwath Kaverappa, and Shikhar Shetty. India seamer Prasidh Krishna adds further strength to the pace department.

While Bengal and Karnataka are the favorites on paper, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand have shown the belief and discipline needed to challenge the established powers, setting up intriguing semifinal contests.