Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, BCCI President Mithun Manhas and former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan led the flood of congratulatory messages after Jammu and Kashmir entered their first Ranji Trophy final, defeating Bengal by six wickets in the semi-final on 18 February 2026.
The landmark victory ended a 67-year wait and sparked celebrations across the Union Territory, with social media platforms flooded with messages describing the achievement as a golden chapter for J&K cricket. For the team that made their Ranji Trophy debut in the 1959-60 season against Eastern Punjab, the breakthrough marks the most significant moment in their domestic cricket history.
A cumulative target of 427 runs was set, 328 from Bengal’s first innings and 99 in the second, to be elected to field first in the semi-final in Kalyani, Jammu and Kashmir. The team responded with composure and resilience, scoring 302 in the first innings before racing through the rest with 126 for four in the second innings to secure a historic place in the final.
Omar Abdullah praised the collective effort behind the triumph and emphasized its significance for the people of the region.
“No one wins the Ranji Trophy alone. This is the achievement of the entire team and also the support staff. I congratulate them all on my behalf and on behalf of the entire people of Jammu and Kashmir. I hope the day is not far when we see players from Jammu and Kashmir playing a very important role in the national team.”
On Wednesday, when the Jammu and Kashmir team created history by reaching their first ever Ranji Trophy final, Mithun Manhas could afford to be emotional.
“It was not very easy at that time when I took over as administrator. The then BCCI secretary Jay Shah gave me a free hand and told me that I will do whatever it takes to get Jammu and Kashmir cricket back on track,” Manhas told PTI in an exclusive interaction after J&K’s six-wicket win over two-time former champions Bengal in the Ranjiani semi-final in Kalyani.
“I watched the match on TV and to beat a side like Bengal who had players like Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep is a huge achievement. The cricketer in me is emotional as I ended my first-class career and also worked there with the national team.”
Speaking about the team, Manhas said he always knew that talent was not the problem, but the right set-up was needed to get things going.
“I would highly commend Brigadier Anil Gupta, who has done a commendable job. When I took over, we held a talent scouting competition,” he said, referring to his colleague in the BCCI sub-committee who was overseeing J&K cricket administration at the time.
“You see, left-arm seamer Sunil Kumar, who played a big role, is a product of this talent hunt. After playing for Delhi for almost two decades, I had an idea of what it takes to succeed at this level. We had a cricket board that did a great job, honestly and transparently,” said Manhas, a Delhi legend with 9,714 runs in 157 first-class games.
Irfan Pathan also joined in the celebrations, posting a reel on Instagram congratulating the entire team and highlighting Aquib Navi’s performance. Pathan said that it would be possible to see Aquib Navi playing Test cricket soon and that day is not too far.
Aquib Navi, who was named player of the match, produced a stunning performance with nine wickets. He also contributed 42 crucial runs as a lower-order batsman in the first innings, playing a crucial role in guiding Jammu and Kashmir to their first Ranji Trophy final.
The achievement ends a 67-year struggle and marks a defining moment for Jammu and Kashmir cricket. From perennial underdogs to historic finalists this season, the team’s journey has been marked by perseverance, rebuilding and faith. The final is now in sight and Jammu and Kashmir are on the verge of completing one of the most remarkable chapters in Ranji Trophy history.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 18, 2026