Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 11: Qamran Iqbal’s brilliant unbeaten 133 guided Jammu & Kashmir to their first-ever victory over Delhi in the 91-year history of the Ranji Trophy, sealing a seven-wicket win at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday.

Iqbal, who had scored just 14 in the first innings, anchored the chase with calm composure and elegant strokeplay, reaching his maiden first-class century off 147 balls. “This is the best knock of my career so far,” he said. “Our coaches told me to play my game freely, and I focused on keeping the pressure off the team.”

The right-handed batter’s natural one-handed shots dominated Delhi’s bowling, with support from key performances by Auqib Nabi and Vanshaj Sharma, who took crucial five- and six-wicket hauls, respectively. Team captain Paras Dogra praised Iqbal for his composure, especially after hitting the winning boundary.

J&K’s rise in domestic cricket is being fueled by structured pre-season preparations and expert guidance from administrators, former cricketer Mithun Manhas, Brigadier Anil Gupta, and Sunil Sethi. “Our pre-season was very good — we played multiple practice matches, including the Buchi Babu tournament, and that built confidence,” Iqbal said.

Head coach Ajay Sharma’s advice on local conditions also played a key role in navigating the low and tricky pitch at Arun Jaitley Stadium. “He knows the ground and conditions perfectly. His guidance was invaluable,” Iqbal added.

A Srinagar native, Iqbal has represented J&K since under-14 level and had a brief stint with India U19. Reflecting on the win, he said, “Now we have momentum going into our next match against Hyderabad. Our aim is to stay positive, perform our best, and hopefully lift the trophy this season.”

J&K’s landmark win, following previous triumphs over Mumbai, signals the narrowing gap between smaller domestic teams and traditional powerhouses like Delhi, underlining the team’s growing stature in Indian cricket.