Hubballi (Karnataka), Feb 27 (.) “From conflict zone to Ranji final,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday hailed the team’s historic surge into the summit clash of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season, backing deserving players from the union Territory for national selection.
Calling it a defining moment in J&K’s sporting journey, Abdullah said the team’s entry into the Ranji Trophy final for the first time marked a breakthrough that went beyond cricket. “It is a very big moment for us to reach the final because this is the first time J&K has reached the final of the Ranji Trophy,” he said.
He noted that the team had silenced doubters who believed they would not progress this far in the competition. “Many people said that they could not go beyond this stage. But the way they performed in the first innings, we are expecting to win the trophy from here,” Abdullah added, expressing confidence that the side could script history by lifting the title.
In a commanding and resilient display, J&K piled up 584 all out in the first innings and then stretched their overall lead to 477 after bowling Karnataka out for 293, despite a magnificent 160 from Mayank Agarwal.
Highlighting the broader significance of the achievement, the Chief Minister said the players had demonstrated that talent from Jammu and Kashmir could compete at the highest level of domestic cricket.
“I think it is time our players are invited or asked to play for the country. One or two of them definitely deserve to wear the Indian colours,” he asserted.
Among the standout performers in the match were Aqib Nabi, who has enjoyed a phenomenal season with 60 wickets in this Ranji campaign, and Shubham Pundir, who struck a superb 121 in the first innings. He was well supported by Yawer Hassan (88), Paras Dogra (70), Kanhaiya Wadhwan (70) and Sahil Lotra (72), all of whom registered vital half-centuries in the first innings.
In the second essay, Qamran Iqbal anchored the innings with a magnificent unbeaten 94, further tightening J&K’s grip on the contest.
Abdullah’s remarks come as J&K’s campaign has captured national attention, symbolising both sporting excellence and a powerful narrative of resilience.
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