Kalyani (West Bengal), February 18 After 67 years, Jammu and Kashmir reached the Ranji Trophy finals for the first time on Wednesday, defeating two-time former champions Bengal by six wickets in the semifinals here, adding another historic chapter to their fairytale season.
Auqib Nabi's stunning nine-wicket haul and Abdul Samad's fearless batting ensured the team, once considered perennial underachievers, is now one step away from the title.
Chasing a modest 126 at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground, J&K benefited from Samad's unbeaten 30 off 27 balls (3x6, 1x4) and Vanshaj Sharma's composed 43 not out off 83 balls (4x4) in an unbroken 55-run stand for the fourth wicket, sealing their historic victory on the fourth day of the semifinal.
Samad, who had dominated the match, allowed 22-year-old Vanshaj to finish it in style, with the youngster hitting Mukesh Kumar for six over long-on, sparking wild celebrations in the visiting camp.
From Strugglers to History-makers
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Jammu and Kashmir had played 334 Ranji matches before this season, winning only 45. It took them 44 years to achieve their first victory, against Services in 1982-83.
Knockout appearances were rare. A breakthrough came in 2013-14 when they edged out Goa based on net run rate to reach the quarterfinals, and in 2015-16 they stunned Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium under the leadership of Parveez Rasool.
However, consistency eluded them for decades. This season, under coach Ajay Sharma and captain Paras Dogra, they transformed belief into results.
After a loss to Mumbai, they bounced back with innings wins over Rajasthan and crucial victories against Delhi and Hyderabad to qualify for the knockouts.
A dramatic 56-run win over Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal, powered by Nabi's 12/110, brought them to the semifinals for the first time.
Bengal's Big Names, Big Letdown
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With four India internationals – Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, and Shahbaz Ahmed – and India A star batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, along with home advantage, Bengal was heavily favored to win.
They failed to do so, folding for 99 in 25.1 overs on the third day, setting a paltry target of 126 for Jammu and Kashmir.
Resuming at 43/2 on the penultimate day, J&K lost an early wicket, but Bengal couldn't maintain pressure despite Akash Deep's relentless 15-over morning spell (3/46) and Shami's probing 1/24 from 24 overs.
There were anxious moments when Shubham Pundir was dismissed, and Dogra edged behind – a low diving catch by Abishek Porel off Akash Deep was eventually upheld after review.
However, Bengal looked fatigued and lacked ideas once Samad counterattacked. The IPL batter, retained by Lucknow Super Giants, turned the tide in a single over against Akash Deep, scoring 18 runs.
He also targeted Shahbaz, hitting him down the track and through covers, helping J&K cross the 100-run mark.
From Strugglers to Champions
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The foundation of J&K's victory was laid by Nabi.
"Last time we missed it in the quarterfinals, but we worked hard and deserved this," said Nabi after winning the man of the match.
The 29-year-old pacer followed his 12-wicket haul in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh with another devastating performance, taking nine wickets in the match, including a five-for in the first innings, to reach a season's tally of 55 wickets with an average of under 13.
Nabi also contributed with the bat, playing a decisive knock at No.9.
J&K had posted 302 in their first innings, reducing the deficit to 26, thanks to Dogra's gritty 58 (112 balls), Samad's counterattacking 82 (85 balls), and a crucial late surge from Nabi (42 off 54) and Yudhvir Singh (33) in a 64-run last-wicket stand.
Dogra's Milestone
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For 41-year-old captain Paras Dogra, it was a week of personal and collective milestones.
In a career spanning 24 years across Himachal Pradesh, Pondicherry, and now J&K, Dogra also became the second batter after Wasim Jaffer to score 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs.
Introduced to the game by his father Kultar, Dogra's journey has been one of perseverance and quiet strength.
"It's a huge achievement, I never thought about it," Dogra said. "I enjoyed the journey with its ups and downs. The game makes you a strong person."
His resolute half-century in a 143-run partnership with Samad in the first innings set the tone for the team's resilience.
