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Ravi Shastri Hails J&K's "Heart-Warming" Fairytale Ranji Trophy Triumph

Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri hailed Jammu & Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy title as the most heart-warming story of the week, celebrating it as a fairy tale for the domestic tournament. J&K scripted history by defeating eight-time champions Karnataka based on a massive first-innings lead at the Hubli Cricket Ground. Their victory was powered by a formidable first-innings total of 584 and a dominant second-innings declaration at 342/4, featuring an unbeaten 160 from opener Qamran Iqbal. Shastri praised the team's grit, self-belief, and journey of knocking over heavyweights without any shortcuts.

Key Points: Shastri Praises J&K's Historic Ranji Trophy Win as Fairy Tale

  • J&K wins first-ever Ranji Trophy
  • Shastri calls it a heart-warming fairy tale
  • Victory secured on first-innings lead
  • Team beat eight-time champions Karnataka
  • Qamran Iqbal scored unbeaten 160 in second innings
2 min read

'The most heart-warming story of the week': Shastri hails J&K's fairytale Ranji triumph

Ravi Shastri calls Jammu & Kashmir's maiden Ranji Trophy title the most heart-warming story of the week, celebrating their historic victory over Karnataka.

"Jammu & Kashmir lifting the Ranji Trophy for the very first time. Let that sink in. What a journey. What a story. - Ravi Shastri"

New Delhi, March 3

Former Indian cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri congratulated the Jammu & Kashmir team for winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title, describing the historic triumph as a shining example of the domestic tournament providing some fairy tale stories which will be remembered for a very long time.

Shastri feels that despite the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 moving towards knockouts and providing some great moments, the best story from last week was Paras Dogra-led team winning its maiden title.

"As the World Cup moves into the business end, with all eyes on the big stage... the most heart-warming story of last week came from elsewhere," Shastri wrote on X.

Shastri also lauded the fighting spirit and the self belief of the Jammu & Kashmir team as they beat the eight-time champions Karnataka.

"Jammu & Kashmir lifting the Ranji Trophy for the very first time. Let that sink in. What a journey. What a story. Paras Dogra, Ajay Sharma and this fearless bunch have taken the long road, knocking over heavyweights, game after game, with grit and self-belief. No shortcuts. Just hard cricket and big hearts," he added.

"That's the beauty of the #RanjiTrophy. It throws up fairy tales. And this one will be remembered for a long, long time. Massive congratulations to the boys from J&K. You've made the entire cricketing fraternity proud," he concluded.

J&K scripted history at the Hubli Cricket Ground on Saturday by clinching the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 title based on a massive first-innings lead against eight-time champions Karnataka. After piling up a formidable 584 in their first innings, Jammu & Kashmir bowled Karnataka out for 293 to take a decisive 291-run lead.

J&K further underlined their dominance by declaring their second innings at 342/4, powered by a marathon unbeaten 160 from opener Qamran Iqbal and an unbroken century stand with Sahil Lotra, before the match ended in a draw and the title was awarded on first-innings lead.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Ravi Shastri is absolutely right to highlight this. In the glamour of the IPL and World Cups, we often forget the real heart of Indian cricket is in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy. Stories like this are why domestic cricket must be protected and celebrated.
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Vikram M
Beating Karnataka, the giants of domestic cricket, makes this victory even sweeter! Paras Dogra and the boys have shown incredible grit. This should inspire so many young talents from the union territory. The future looks bright! 🇮🇳
P
Priya S
So proud! This is a historic moment. I hope this success brings more infrastructure and attention to cricket in J&K. These players are true heroes, achieving this through pure hard work and determination. Bas ab IPL teams should pick more players from this team!
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Rohit P
While this is a fantastic achievement, I respectfully disagree with Shastri calling it the "most heart-warming story of the week." The T20 World Cup is representing our nation on the global stage. Both are important, but the World Cup holds a different significance for the country's pride.
K
Kavya N
Qamran Iqbal's 160* and that massive first innings total... just wow! They didn't just win, they dominated a champion side. This proves talent is everywhere in India. We need to look beyond the traditional cricketing hubs. More power to J&K cricket! 👏

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