A victory lap through history unfolded when Jammu and Kashmir reached their first Ranji Trophy final. This moment wasn’t only about runs or wickets – behind it sat decades of slow repair, behind-the-scenes shifts in how things were run, yet another proof that faith in talent can outlast neglect. Cricket here always had whispers of greatness; now those murmurs finally echoed on the biggest local stage.
One breath. Then another. Mithun Manhas sat still, watching the scoreboard confirm what years had built. Victory over Bengal by six wickets – quiet but heavy. He wore many hats: current BCCI president, past fixer of JKCA’s tangled affairs. That win wasn’t just result on paper. It pricked something older inside him. A player’s pride surfaced, not only official satisfaction. All those small steps – discipline, structure, patience – suddenly stood tall under stadium lights. The game today spoke for efforts buried in yesterday.
From Crisis to Competitiveness
When Manhas joined JKCA in 2021, he walked into a mess – rumors swirled around misuse of funds, whispers of shady deals. Trust? Gone. The whole setup felt like loose threads pulling apart. From day one, Shah’s message landed sharp: fix what’s broken, no excuses. Stability came before speed, rebuilding mattered more than rushing forward.
Few realize how deep change must go. Fixing things goes beyond swapping out leaders. How decisions are made needs reworking, step by step. Belief in the system has to return slowly, earned over time. Clear actions matter most, visible from first tryouts up through final picks.
Talent wasn’t missing in Jammu and Kashmir – Manhas said that again and again. Naturally skilled players kept emerging from the area, one after another. Yet there was no structure ready to support them over time. Instead of aiming for fast wins, attention turned toward building steady pathways.
This idea had backing from Brigadier Anil Gupta, a key figure in guiding changes to administration. With him involved, progress came through group effort on the sub-committee, aimed at rebuilding trust while rolling out an organized path forward.
The Search for Talent Shifted the Story
From the start, the fresh leadership pushed events that scouted skills in remote corners. Trials popped up everywhere, aiming to spot players missed by usual routes.
Out of nowhere, Sunil Kumar stepped up – a left-arm pacer who thrived when others faded. Jammu and Kashmir leaned on him during their latest run. What he brought wasn’t flash, just consistent lines and tough overs. The system gave him space, then watched what unfolded. Talent found its way because doors stayed open. Proof sits in his bowling figures, quiet but loud enough.
Instead of just picking big names, the team made sure those choosing players could be held responsible. With close to twenty years of top-level work in Delhi, Manhas knew exactly what it meant to thrive locally. What mattered most? Staying disciplined, staying fit, preparing thoroughly – these were must-haves, nothing less. Professional behavior sat right alongside them, never up for debate.
Nine thousand seven hundred fourteen runs came from his own bat across one hundred fifty-seven elite games – a total that carried weight behind it. From those years on the field grew the changes he pushed forward: winning mattered now, not just showing up for the Ranji Trophy, but standing strong against the top teams.
Infrastructure Makes Play Fair
Facing hurdles in roads and transport, Jammu and Kashmir lags behind established hubs such as Mumbai or Delhi when it comes to cricket setups. Yet rather than hold back until everything improves, officials focused on groundwork they actually manage – getting pitches ready and matches set to go.
One unusual detail stands out – Harbux Stadium in Srinagar had ten central lanes. So did the College Ground up in Jammu. Each strip mixed red and black soil underfoot. That blend hardly appears across northern India. Because of it, squads can train for different match environments.
Simple thinking drove the plan: get athletes ready for difference. Facing opponents in the Ranji Trophy means adjusting fast. Because they trained on different kinds of ground back home, surprises during away matches became fewer. What seemed small actually made travel easier.
Victory last season against Mumbai showed what careful planning can do. Early arrival meant J&K got time to practice right where the game would happen. Instead of just showing up, they adapted to the heat, the pitch, the pace. Small choices added up – like treating the trip as more than travel. A new attitude emerged, not about hoping to win but setting up to compete. Preparation became part of the strategy itself.
Paras Dogra Experience Counts
A move that stirred talk across circles: Paras Dogra, aged 41, joined the team as a seasoned batter. While some questioned timing, others saw value in his experience shaping up play. His presence shifted dynamics quietly, without fanfare but with weight behind each choice he made on field.
Maybe it looks odd on the surface – picking a cricketer past forty for a team starting fresh. Some would say it takes spots away from kids coming up. Yet Manhas saw something else entirely.
Out on the fields of Himachal Pradesh, Dogra picked up moves that fit just right with J&K’s rugged pace. Years spent jumping into UK club games every winter break sharpened how he handled pressure, reshaped his habits. Tough pitches, odd weather – none of it startled him much after that.
Stability in the middle overs was what Jammu and Kashmir lacked until now. Through calm decision-making under pressure, Dogra filled that gap. Not through flashy strokes or loud talk, but quiet confidence shaped his influence. Teammates began matching his temperament, slowly raising expectations behind closed doors.
Fresh energy met steady guidance when younger talents stepped forward under watchful eyes. A mix of new faces and old hands shaped what came next. Behind every rising name stood someone who’d been there before.
Stronger Coaching Foundation
Few saw it coming when Ajay Sharma stepped into the role beside Dogra. A mountain of runs in domestic cricket had built his name slowly. Sharp thinking on field placements became his quiet signature.
Getting Dogra on board didn’t take much effort, Manhas said. Though Sharma hesitated at first, clarity about the future changed his mind. A clear plan focused on openness and fair play made them see value. Their expertise followed soon after. The whole process moved faster than anyone thought possible.
Out front, trust grew because the captain and coach saw things the same way. When players feel settled, teams tend to thrive at home – here, steady leadership from both sides spelled out who did what without confusion. A shared rhythm emerged simply by having two veterans in charge.
The Rise of Auqib Nabi
Few have shone like Auqib Nabi during J&K’s run, known widely as the “Baramulla Express.” Hitting 50 wickets in one season made him the first player from the region to do so – no small feat. His pace cut through lineups while history quietly took note.
Lately, his play has turned tight games around. Though Manhas stayed clear of talking about national picks – respecting the panel’s independence – a steady run by Nabi keeps him close to spotlight.
Funny thing happens when talent shines bright at home – it doesn’t always travel well. Success within borders shows promise, yet facing unfamiliar rules, different opponents, and unpredictable stress reveals more about staying power than records ever could.
A single season rarely tells the full story; Nabi’s path shows how local systems need to keep nurturing athletes who can deliver long after their first success. What matters is staying power, built quietly through steady development across smaller leagues and homegrown programs. Moments of promise fade unless backed by deeper structures that last longer than headlines.
A Win That Changed More Than the Game
Under court orders from Jammu and Kashmir’s High Court, a group took charge of bringing JKCA back to life after past mishandling. Because judges were watching, fixes had to answer to someone.
A season’s end showing up on the big stage – what sticks isn’t just victory, but how deep the roots go. One title might come by chance; steady progress needs more than luck. It takes planning that doesn’t shout, yet shows.
Yet here’s the real test: how steady will things stay over five, maybe ten years? Not just one bright moment, but what comes after counts most. Think about it – will youth programs actually build up the main team? When more eyes are watching, can leaders share decisions openly? As results start rising, does concrete progress match the talk?
What truly matters shows up in these moments. How something lasts gets decided here. A discovery might spark interest – its staying power comes later.
Emotional Closure for Manhas
Now a different role shapes his days – once player, now builder. Seeing a team he reshaped beat Bengal, with names such as Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep, made it real: the plan held up. Success wasn’t loud, just clear.
Funny how even tough players get quiet sometimes. When one chapter closes, another begins – just not always your own. Watching someone else build something steady might just warm you more than trophies ever did.
Still, guiding others means holding back sometimes. When achievements came, Manhas pointed out something else mattered more – creating structure instead of chasing attention.
The Bigger Picture For India’s Home Cricket
Out of nowhere, J&K’s climb hints at something bigger in India’s local cricket scene – fair competition can happen when management listens to what grows from the ground up.
Back then, top teams mostly came from places already ahead in money and facilities. Still, should areas such as J&K close the difference by sticking to solid systems and smart oversight, the tournament’s balance shifts – less certain, tougher all around.
Still, it’s wise not to paint the story with too rosy a brush. Moments of emotional victory lift spirits, yet lasting success grows only where effort never fades, care for athletes runs deep, and honesty stays visible.
Looking Ahead
Resilience gets tested now. How J&K holds up under scrutiny becomes clearer each day. Higher hopes show up quietly. The weight of attention grows heavier by the week.
It starts with staying alert, never assuming things will hold on their own. Picking people should still come down to what they can actually do, nothing more. Those at the top keep shaping new names by walking beside them. Progress in facilities has to move forward, never pause.
A solid foundation might turn J&K’s Ranbi Trophy near-win into something lasting. Stability could follow if key pieces stay in place.
Right now, Mithun Manhas might say it feels like a dream realized. Yet what matters more may not be one win alone – instead, showing how clear, honest change inside systems can turn promise into results.
What unfolds in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranbi campaign isn’t just cricket – it’s quiet resolve shaped by stubborn conditions. Behind every match lies a system slowly learning to hold steady. Progress shows when routine effort outlasts doubt. What once seemed distant now moves within reach, step by uneven step.
