Jammu and Kashmir made history by advancing to the Ranji Trophy finals for the first time in their 67-year history. The team defeated the two-time former champions Bengal by six wickets in a gripping semifinal match on Wednesday.
Facing a modest target of 126 runs, Jammu and Kashmir accomplished the chase in 34.4 overs. Vanshaj Sharma, remaining unbeaten at 43, combined forces with Abdul Samad, who scored 30 not out, to guide their team across the finish line.
The team’s success was significantly aided by the devastating bowling display of Auqib Nabi, who claimed nine wickets in the match, dismantling Bengal’s chances. Jammu and Kashmir’s achievement marks a remarkable journey, having first participated in the Ranji Trophy in the 1959-60 season and reaching the knockouts only once in recent decades, during the 2013-14 season.
