Jammu & Kashmir's Historic Ranji Trophy Triumph: A Dream Realized Under Ajay Sharma's Guidance

In a moment that will be etched in the annals of Indian domestic cricket, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) lifted their first-ever Ranji Trophy title, defeating Karnataka in the final. The victory marks a monumental achievement for the team, who had never progressed beyond the quarterfinals in their 66-year history. Head coach Ajay Sharma, whose own career has been a story of redemption, described the win as the fulfillment of an unimaginable dream.

"Jo sapna dekha tha woh aaj poora hua," Sharma said, translating to 'The dream we saw is now a reality.' Yet, in the next breath, he admitted, "Never imagined that we could win the Ranji Trophy." This Schrödinger's dream encapsulated the improbable journey from skepticism to triumph.

Sharma's coaching philosophy drew inspiration from the 1975 Bollywood classic Sholay, urging his young players to embody characters from the film—big or small—and make their roles count. Appointed with a bold mandate from the BCCI sub-committee to win the Ranji Trophy, Sharma initially tempered expectations: "Pehle qualify to karle (First let's qualify to the knockouts)."

The path wasn't smooth. Last season's quarterfinal exit against Kerala, decided by a slender one-run lead, could have been a setback. Instead, J&K adopted a resilient slogan: "We will not let them win, we will win." Momentum built with key victories over Mumbai in Srinagar, Delhi in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh in Indore, Bengal in Kalyani, Rajasthan, and Hyderabad—all former champions boasting Test heroes.

Lead pacer Aquib Nabi's consistency was pivotal, but Sharma emphasized team effort. He disciplined IPL star Abdul Samad, dropping him briefly to instill value for his wicket. Samad emerged as the team's top-scorer in the title-winning season.

The final in Hubballi tested resolve. Injuries to openers Shubham Khajuriya and Vanshaj Sharma forced late replacements. Qamran Iqbal's odyssey—flying overnight from Srinagar and scoring an unbeaten 160 in the second innings—proved decisive. Fellow opener Yawer Hassan, backed despite modest averages, delivered a maiden first-class fifty of 88, laying the foundation for a massive first-innings total.

"If your intentions are pure, you can achieve any goal. The J&K team has proved it," Sharma reflected. For Sharma, a prolific 1980s-90s batsman banned for life in 2000 over match-fixing allegations (overturned after 14 years), this victory is a rebirth. "This is like the rebirth of Ajay Sharma," he said emotionally.

The win has inspired a legacy, with Sharma noting, "Now sky is the limit for them." Players who once viewed IPL as the pinnacle now grasp the Ranji Trophy's prestige, opening doors to national colors.