Jammu and Kashmir Celebrates Historic Ranji Trophy Victory
Congratulations from the Lieutenant Governor
Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the J&K cricket team for their groundbreaking victory in the Ranji Trophy against Karnataka on Saturday. He described this achievement as a pivotal moment in the sporting history of the Union Territory, commending both the players and coaching staff for their remarkable dedication and performance throughout the tournament. "The J&K cricket team has shown commendable skill in the Ranji tournament. My best wishes to the team," Sinha remarked to the media.
'A Defining Moment for J&K'
In a message shared on X, the Lieutenant Governor stated, "J&K's finest hour has arrived! Emotions are overwhelming as I witness our cricket team claiming the Ranji Trophy. To every determined player who made history through hard work: thank you from the entire Union Territory, filled with pride. You have etched your names in history—embrace it with honor. I am thankful for the sporting revolution in our UT, sparked under the leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji since 2019. To all the youth: let this victory inspire you to train hard and build on this success for a future of dominance—J&K's unstoppable journey begins with you."
Political Leaders Join in the Celebration
After the historic win, Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah celebrated alongside the victorious team as they secured their first Ranji Trophy title. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti also praised the J&K cricket team's success, expressing her joy over their achievement in the Ranji Trophy.
"It brings immense joy that our team has triumphed in the Ranji Trophy. The youth of Kashmir and Jammu united to achieve this success. This serves as a lesson for those who closed the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College in the name of religion. If Hindus and Muslims stand together in Jammu and Kashmir, we can win the Ranji Trophy today and the World Cup tomorrow," Mufti stated to reporters.
J&K's Historic Match Against Karnataka
Under the leadership of Paras Dogra, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) concluded a 67-year wait for a Ranji Trophy title by defeating the formidable Karnataka team. In their first-ever Ranji final, J&K emerged victorious with a significant first-innings lead of 291 runs, a gap that proved too great for the eight-time champions, Karnataka, captained by Devdutt Padikkal.
Choosing to bat first, J&K amassed an impressive total of 584 runs, highlighted by Shubham Pundir's century (121 runs). Auqib Nabi's exceptional bowling performance (5 wickets) then dismissed Karnataka for 293, giving J&K a crucial first-innings advantage. Despite Mayank Agarwal's valiant effort of 160 runs for Karnataka, J&K extended their lead to 291 runs. In their second innings, Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra both scored centuries, pushing the lead to 633 runs. The match concluded in a draw on Day 5, but J&K's first-innings lead secured their victory.