Historic Achievement After Six Decades of Waiting

Minutes after Jammu and Kashmir sealed a spot in the Ranji Trophy final, the team received a video call from BCCI president Mithun Manhas, a former head of the J&K cricket's ad-hoc committee. The moment was symbolic of a journey that began in the 1959-60 season when J&K first entered the Ranji Trophy. For decades, they were treated as plucky participants, rarely as genuine threats. Now, they stand on the cusp of history.

The Ajay Sharma Revolution: From Struggle to Success

Head coach Ajay Sharma, a 61-year-old former India batter who took charge ahead of the 2022-23 season, describes his journey with the J&K side as a rebirth. "Absolutely. It's my second birth after I went through a lot of difficulties in life," Sharma told TOI. His playing career was derailed by match-fixing allegations (charges from which he was cleared by the judiciary), forcing him to rebuild his life and reputation from scratch.

Sharma admits the first year was exceptionally challenging. "When I joined for the first time, I was handling 38 boys. I was alone then," he recalled. The initial reception was far from welcoming. "The first year, they did not warm up to me. Their attitude towards me was like: 'Boriya bistar bandh ke niklo' (pack your bags and leave). In fact, I asked them to write a review at the end of my first season, and 13 players wrote that they didn't like being coached by me."

Cultural Transformation and Mindset Shift

The transformation required more than just technical coaching. "I changed myself from being a strict coach to going down to their level, communicating and understanding them," Sharma explained. "These boys only think about white-ball cricket and the IPL. We have players from the state in the IPL. But Mithun, as J&K cricket administrator, had a vision and that is to win the Ranji trophy."

Sharma emphasized the importance of red-ball cricket: "Ranji trophy still remains the country's premier tournament. If you do well here your name goes ahead." He worked diligently to shift the team's mindset from T20-focused aggression to the patience and temperament required for first-class cricket.

Building Infrastructure and Team Culture

The set-up has evolved significantly from Sharma's initial solo efforts. J&K now have bowling coach P Krishnakumar and fielding coach Dishant Yagnik. Infrastructure improvements have been equally crucial. "J&K's push included pitch preparation, with Sharma noting the state now has both black and red soil pitches, a rare advantage for a side looking to be versatile at home and resilient away," the report noted.

Sharma identified and nurtured a core group of 24-25 players, some emerging through talent-hunt competitions. "It's the same bunch which has developed as we kept giving them confidence," Sharma stated. He slowly instilled ambition in the young squad: "I slowly made them understand that you are all talented guys and you are all around 19-20 years of age. You have the game in you so if you apply a little, you can play for India."

The Hunger That Drives Success

"The journey and the struggles of these boys are extraordinary," Sharma emphasized. "Given the circumstances in the region, they've faced challenges from a very young age. Most of our players come from districts with hardly any facilities, but things have changed for the better now."

He highlighted the story of pacer Sunil Kumar: "This is a boy who once struggled to afford two square meals a day, and today, after Nabi, he is the backbone of our team. That hunger drives them. For us, only performance matters — not reputation or names. That's why you don't see Umran Malik in the team."

Preparation and Results

Preparation became a season-defining theme. "Pre-season is very important and we started playing the Buchi Babu (in Chennai) for the last two-three years," Sharma pointed out. Facing bigger sides there, and surviving those examinations, helped the group believe it could beat anyone.

The results speak for themselves. "J&K has become a team to reckon with. Everybody is scared of playing J&K now," Sharma declared. "We have all bases covered having both quality fast bowlers and spinners. We have won both the knockout matches away from home."

Looking Ahead to the Final

As Jammu and Kashmir prepare to face eight-time champions Karnataka in their maiden Ranji Trophy final in Hubballi, Sharma's message is clear: "My message to them is clear. We play the game, not the opposition. We are going out there to win. Just focus on the process and the result will take care of itself."

He emphasized what's at stake: "A title win can change their fortunes. I've told them this could open doors — India call-ups, India A opportunities, even IPL contracts. I've told them to remember, a champion team can beat a team of champions."

The team's semifinal victory over Bengal demonstrated their resilience. "Whether you are a batter or a bowler, red-ball cricket always gives you a second chance. That's the lesson we learnt in the semifinal against Bengal — even after conceding the 1st-innings lead, we found a way back."

With history already made, Jammu and Kashmir now dare to dream of completing their remarkable transformation with the Ranji Trophy title.