Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association Makes History by Qualifying for Ranji Trophy Semifinals
In a historic moment for the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), the team has qualified for the Ranji Trophy semifinals for the first time. This remarkable achievement came after a thrilling 56-run victory over Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal match at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Monday.
Madhya Pradesh, chasing a target of 291, was bowled out for 234 in their second innings on Day 4. The disciplined pace attack of J&K, led by Auqib Nabi, played a crucial role in securing the win and securing a spot in the last four of India’s premier domestic tournament.
Auqib Nabi and Abid Mushtaq Shine in Bowling
On Day 4, Madhya Pradesh, starting at 87/5, put up a fight with Saransh Jain scoring 64 and Shubham Sharma adding 32 runs. However, J&K’s bowlers, particularly Auqib Nabi with a five-wicket haul (5/70) and Abid Mushtaq with three wickets (3/49), maintained control and took crucial wickets. Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh also contributed with timely breakthroughs, restricting Madhya Pradesh’s lower order.
Lower-Order Resilience Turns the Tide
In their second innings, J&K’s lower-order batsmen played a vital role in setting up the victory. A resilient 65-run partnership between Vanshaj Sharma and Sunil Kumar helped J&K reach a total of 248. This late surge provided the team with a challenging fourth-innings target for Madhya Pradesh.
Despite Kuldeep Sen’s impressive performance with a nine-wicket haul for Madhya Pradesh, J&K’s collective effort with both bat and ball ensured their dominance throughout the match.
Former J&K skipper Samiullah Beigh expressed his emotions, stating, “I am thrilled to bits. I know how big a moment it is for the entire J&K in general and the cricketing fraternity in particular.” He praised the JKCA for their selection and the players for delivering in pressure situations.
