Daijiworld Media Network - Hubballi
Hubballi, Feb 28: Jammu and Kashmir are set to script history on Saturday as they close in on their maiden Ranji Trophy title, riding on sensational performances from pacer Auqib Nabi Dar and opener Qamran Iqbal.
Dominating a star-studded Karnataka cricket team featuring seasoned national players like KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Prasidh Krishna and Devdutt Padikkal, J&K took firm control of the final with an all-round show.
After piling up a mammoth 574 in their first innings, J&K bowled out Karnataka for 293, with Nabi producing yet another five-wicket haul to tighten his grip on the contest. In the second innings, 24-year-old Qamran stood tall with an unbeaten 94, guiding J&K to an unassailable 477-run lead with six wickets in hand and inching closer to a well-deserved century.
J&K are expected to bat through the first session on the final day before declaring and unleashing their bowling attack, spearheaded by Nabi alongside spinners Lotra and Abid Mushtaq. However, even if Karnataka survive the final day, J&K will still clinch the trophy on the basis of their commanding first-innings lead.
The spotlight remains firmly on Nabi, who has been the standout performer of the season. His latest five-wicket burst marked his seventh such haul in the tournament, taking his tally to 60 wickets at an impressive average of around 12.54. His standout performance includes remarkable figures of 12/110 against Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinals.
Nabi surpassed Uttarakhand’s Mayank Mishra, who had 52 wickets, to emerge as the leading wicket-taker of the season, leaving other contenders such as Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed and Karnataka’s S Gopal trailing behind.
Known for his ability to swing and seam both the new and old ball, Nabi is increasingly being seen as a strong contender for India’s Test squad. Cricket experts believe his stamina and consistency make him ideally suited for the longer format. His back-to-back stellar Ranji seasons also earned him a lucrative IPL contract worth Rs 8 crore, though the pacer has made it clear that his ultimate ambition lies in Test cricket.
As celebrations loom at the Hubballi stadium, J&K’s triumph is set to inspire a new generation of cricketers from the region. With Nabi, Qamran, Samad and Pundir leading the charge, the team’s historic feat promises to silence doubters and mark a new chapter in Jammu and Kashmir’s cricketing journey.