Jammu & Kashmir's Historic Ranji Final Entry: A Story of Cricket Transformation
In 2021, when current BCCI president Mithun Manhas stepped in as one of the administrators of a crisis-hit Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), the task before him was daunting. The association was grappling with severe mismanagement and allegations of corruption, making the restoration of order an immediate and critical priority.
On Wednesday, as Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by entering their maiden Ranji Trophy final, Manhas allowed himself a moment of genuine emotion. "It wasn't very easy at that time when I took over as the administrator," Manhas told PTI in an exclusive interaction after J&K's six-wicket win over two-time former champions Bengal in the Ranji semifinal in Kalyani.
The Foundation of Recovery
"The then BCCI secretary Jay Shah gave me a free hand and told me that do whatever is needed to get Jammu and Kashmir cricket back on track," Manhas revealed. "I was watching the match on TV and beating a side like Bengal that had players like Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep is a huge achievement. The cricketer in me is emotional as I ended my first-class career and also worked with the state unit there."
Reflecting on the challenging journey, Manhas emphasized that talent was never the primary concern for Jammu and Kashmir. What the team desperately needed was the right structure and systematic support to harness that potential.
Building a Robust System
"I would give a lot of credit to Brigadier Anil Gupta, who has done a commendable job. When I took over, we conducted talent hunt competition," he said, referring to his colleague in the BCCI sub-committee that once oversaw J&K cricket administration. "You see left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar, who played a big role, is a product of that talent hunt."
Manhas, the Delhi stalwart with 9,714 runs from 157 first-class matches, leveraged his extensive experience. "Having played nearly two decades in Delhi, I had an idea what is required to succeed at this level. We had a Cricket Committee that did a fine job, with honesty and transparency," he explained.
Infrastructure and Strategic Preparation
While infrastructure remains a significant challenge in the region, the focus was strategically placed on preparing competitive playing conditions. "Both the Harbux Stadium in Srinagar and the College ground in Jammu have 10 centre strips each with both red and black soil pitches. We are the only north Indian state with both black and red soil strips," Manhas noted proudly.
He recalled a key strategic move: "When we played against Mumbai last year and beat them, the team had travelled and practised in Mumbai at least a week before the game." This committee had been constituted under the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court following administrative irregularities in the JKCA, marking a fresh start for cricket in the union territory.
Key Appointments: Dogra and Sharma
Manhas believes one of his most significant contributions was persuading seasoned domestic performer Paras Dogra to represent the state as a professional at 41 years old. Dogra now captains the side, with Manhas' former Sonnet Club associate and Delhi senior Ajay Sharma, a former India player, serving as head coach.
"I have played a lot of cricket with and against Paras. He is not just a terrific cricketer but a great professional. Paras played all his cricket in Himachal where conditions are pretty similar to J&K," Manhas said. "The next part was that for two decades, he regularly played club cricket in the UK during off season which is a great way of imbibing discipline and professionalism."
"We needed that stable, experienced batting head in the middle order who could shepherd us during tense moments and Paras, as you can see, was brilliant," he added, highlighting Dogra's crucial role in the team's success.
Convincing both Dogra and Sharma to join the project proved surprisingly straightforward. "In case of Ajay bhai, we all know what kind of a cricketer he was at the first-class level and his knowledge of how to get success at the domestic level is immense. So when I approached both of them with my vision, it wasn't difficult to convince them to come and join the J&K ranks," the BCCI president explained.
Rising Stars: Auqib Nabi's National Aspirations
Another standout performer has been Auqib Nabi, popularly known as the 'Baramulla Express', who became the first cricketer from the state to claim 50 wickets. Manhas feels his performances have undoubtedly caught the attention of national selectors.
"Obviously Nabi has been terrific for J&K and has done what is expected of him. He has been a match-winner and has won the big games for past two seasons," Manhas stated. "Now selection is something that I shouldn't be commenting on as the BCCI president. Yes, as a cricketer, I can say he is knocking at the doors of national team. Now it is up to selection committee to see what kind of role he fits in."
This historic achievement represents more than just a cricket victory; it symbolizes the successful transformation of Jammu and Kashmir's cricketing ecosystem through strategic administration, talent nurturing, and experienced leadership.
