"This historic triumph reflects the remarkable grit of the team": PM Modi lauds J&K's Ranji Trophy win
New Delhi, February 28
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir team for their first-ever Ranji Trophy triumph, highlighting their remarkable grit, discipline and passion.
Jammu and Kashmir scripted a fairytale ending to their 67-year wait, defeating the powerhouse Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy final on Saturday in Hubballi.
PM Modi wrote in an X post, "Congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir team for their first-ever Ranji Trophy win! This historic triumph reflects the remarkable grit, discipline and passion of the team. It is a proud moment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and it highlights the growing sporting passion and talent there. May this feat inspire many young athletes to dream big and play more."
Playing their first-ever Ranji final, Jammu and Kashmir were crowned champions by virtue of their massive 291-run first-innings lead, a gap that proved insurmountable for the eight-time champions, Karnataka
Coming to the match, J&K opted to bat first and piled on a mammoth 584, led by Shubham Pundir's century (121). Auqib Nabi's devastating pace attack (5-wicket haul) then bundled out Karnataka for 293, handing J&K a crucial first-innings lead.
Mayank Agarwal's fighting 160 for Karnataka wasn't enough, and J&K extended their lead to 291. Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra slammed hundreds in J&K's second innings, pushing the lead to 633. The match ended in a draw on Day 5, but J&K's first-innings lead secured them the win.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who follows domestic cricket, this is huge. Beating Karnataka, an 8-time champion, in the final is no small feat. The talent in J&K has always been there, finally getting the platform it deserves. Great to see the PM acknowledging it.
This news made my day! 🏏 Finally, our team from Jammu and Kashmir is getting national recognition for sports. May this inspire thousands of kids in the valley to pick up a bat or ball instead of anything else. Jai Hind!
While the win is fantastic and deserves all praise, I hope this leads to more concrete investment in sports infrastructure in J&K. One trophy is great, but sustained success needs proper coaching academies and grounds. The government should follow up on this momentum.
Shubham Pundir, Auqib Nabi, Qamran Iqbal... remember these names! They could be future stars for Team India. Beating Karnataka in their own backyard (Hubballi) shows incredible mental strength. Bahut badhiya!
Congratulations to the team! It's always special when an underdog story like this comes true in sports. The score of 584 in the first innings is absolutely massive. Well done, lads.
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