Jammu & Kashmir's Historic Ranji Trophy Final Berth: A Journey of Transformation
History had barely settled when the phone rang in Kalyani. A familiar face flashed up on a video call. Minutes after Jammu and Kashmir sealed a spot in the Ranji Trophy final, the team received a congratulatory call from BCCI president Mithun Manhas, a former head of the J&K cricket’s ad-hoc committee. This moment was deeply fitting, symbolizing the culmination of years of effort and vision.
From Decades of Struggle to Title Contention
J&K first entered the Ranji Trophy in the 1959-60 season. For decades, they were treated as plucky participants, rarely seen as genuine threats. The transformation into a side that now talks—and plays—like title contenders has had Manhas’s imprint on it. This rise carries a fairy-tale quality, overcoming odds and brushing aside doubts, but it is not built on romance alone. It has been shaped by method, patience, and the hard labour of building a winning culture.
The Coaching Vision and Cultural Shift
"We have done it, Mithun," J&K coach Ajay Sharma shouted out on the phone. "Mithun and I go back a long way. He made his debut for Delhi under me. I know how hard he had worked for this." Sharma admits he struggled initially when he took charge before the 2022-23 season. "When I joined for the first time, I was handling 38 boys. I was alone then," he recalled.
The set-up looks very different now. J&K have a bowling coach in P Krishnakumar and Dishant Yagnik as their fielding coach. These are small additions on paper, but significant in a dressing room trying to grow into a winning unit. "Initially it was challenging because it was a very different culture in J&K. It took me around two years to understand these kids. It took time to bond with them," Sharma said. "I was hard on them initially. But today they see me as an elder brother."
Changing Mindsets and Building Ambition
The first shift, Sharma believes, had to happen in the mind. "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. Ranji trophy still remains the country’s premier tournament. If you do well here your name goes ahead," Sharma emphasized.
From there, the work became more deliberate: identify a core and keep backing it. A group of 24-25 boys began to take shape—some, like left-arm pacer Sunil Kumar, emerging through talent-hunt competitions. "It’s the same bunch which has developed as we kept giving them confidence," Sharma stated.
Alongside confidence came ambition—not the loud, throwaway kind, but something planted carefully and watered over seasons. "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," he said.
Infrastructure and Preparation: Key Pillars of Success
Infrastructure, too, mattered. 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. Preparation became a season-defining theme. "Pre-season is very important and we started playing the Buchi Babu tournament 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.
A Team to Reckon With
"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." This statement underscores the remarkable journey from underdogs to formidable contenders, a testament to strategic planning and unwavering belief.
