Jammu & Kashmir Create History, Enter First-Ever Ranji Trophy Final

Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by storming into the final of the Ranji Trophy for the first time in their 67-year journey, defeating two-time former champions Bengal by six wickets in the semifinal at Kalyani on Wednesday.
Chasing a modest target of 126 runs set by Bengal, J&K completed the task in 34.4 overs. Unbeaten knocks from Vanshaj Sharma (43)* and Abdul Samad (30)* anchored the chase after early setbacks and ensured a memorable finish.
Earlier in the match, pace spearhead Auqib Nabi Dar delivered a match-winning all-round performance. He claimed 9 wickets in the match — including a five-wicket haul in the first innings and four crucial scalps in the second — dismantling Bengal’s batting lineup and earning the Man of the Match award. Auqib also contributed a valuable 42 runs with the bat, strengthening J&K’s first-innings total.
Jammu and Kashmir, who made their Ranji debut in the 1959-60 season, had rarely been viewed as serious contenders in India’s premier domestic competition. Their previous best performance came in the 2013-14 season when they reached the knockout stage after more than a decade.
On Day Four of the semifinal, J&K faced early pressure as overnight batter Shubham Pundir (27) and skipper Paras Dogra (9) were dismissed quickly. However, the composed 55-run partnership between Vanshaj and Samad steadied the innings and sealed a landmark victory.
The triumph marks a defining chapter in the cricketing history of J&K and signals the emergence of J&K as a formidable force in domestic cricket under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.