Qamran Iqbal: Jammu & Kashmir stand on the threshold of a moment that once felt unimaginable — their maiden title in the prestigious Ranji Trophy. After decades of striving for recognition in India’s premier domestic red-ball competition, the northern state side now find themselves within touching distance of glory.
At the heart of this remarkable campaign are unlikely heroes, late call-ups, seasoned veterans, and resilient match-winners. From Qamran Iqbal’s whirlwind arrival to Auqib Nabi’s record-breaking bowling, this is a story of belief, redemption, and destiny.
And perhaps no name captures that spirit more than qamran iqbal.
Qamran Iqbal’s Dramatic Dash to Destiny
The journey began in chaos.
On Tuesday morning in Hubballi, the distance from the airport tarmac to the exit is scarcely 100 metres. But for Qamran Iqbal, it felt like the final sprint of an Olympic relay. With his kit bag slung over his shoulder, he rushed to a waiting car for a frantic 20-minute ride to the KSCA Stadium.
Less than 12 hours earlier, he had been in Srinagar, curled up against the biting two-degree chill. At 9:30 pm the previous evening, his phone rang. First-choice opener Shubham Khajuria had been ruled out due to injury. Iqbal was told to pack immediately.
He boarded a late-night flight at 11:30 pm from Srinagar, endured a four-hour layover in Mumbai, and landed in Hubballi at 7:35 am. By 8:15 am, he was at the ground, just in time to pad up under early summer heat — a dramatic contrast to the cold he had left behind.
His first innings brought just six runs, and doubts may have crept in. But the second innings offered redemption.
With J&K at 32 for 2 and Karnataka sensing an opportunity after conceding a 291-run lead, the pressure was immense. A searing delivery from Vidyadhar Patil brushed past Iqbal’s off stump — close enough to kiss it — but the bails refused to move. Karnataka’s fielders swapped the bails in frustration. Luck, however, had chosen its side.
Through sharp short balls and relentless verbal volleys, qamran iqbal stood firm. By stumps, he was unbeaten on 94 — dreaming of a second first-class century and something far bigger: history.
Captain Paras Dogra: The Shield in the Storm
If Iqbal was the spark, captain Paras Dogra was the shield.
Karnataka had targeted him from the outset. In the first innings, they identified the short ball as a possible weakness and peppered him with hostility. Prasidh Krishna, Vijaykumar Vyshak, and Patil unleashed a barrage aimed at unsettling the veteran.
In a bid to needle him further, Karnataka even brought on substitute fielder KV Aneesh for added chatter. Tempers flared briefly in the first innings, but Dogra regained composure.
His first-innings 70 off 166 balls laid the foundation. In the second innings, though his scorecard read just 16, the 59 deliveries he consumed were invaluable. On a placid pitch offering little assistance, Karnataka needed early breakthroughs to stay alive. Dogra denied them.
By the time he fell to a brute delivery from Prasidh, J&K had steadied from 11 for 2 to 72 for 3.
In 2013, Hubballi was where Dogra made his India A debut against West Indies A. One failure closed that door. Thirteen years later, at 42, he stands in the same city — not as a hopeful prospect, but as captain on the brink of leading Jammu & Kashmir to their greatest triumph.
Abdul Samad: Talent Tempered by Maturity
Few players embody potential like Abdul Samad.
Since his first-class debut in 2019-20, he has dazzled with explosive strokeplay. Yet that same aggression often frustrated head coach Ajay Sharma. Shot selection, at times, proved costly.
This final demanded restraint.
Armed with a 291-run lead, Samad resisted temptation. Even when Karnataka’s Shreyas Gopal employed negative leg-side lines, he stayed patient. He absorbed 70 balls for 32 composed runs, guiding J&K out of turbulent waters before an attempted swipe ended his vigil.
The numbers underline his season:
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Top Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul Samad | 2025-26 Season | 748 | Consistent | Multiple 50+ Scores |
Nearly six years ago, a reckless dismissal against Karnataka cost J&K dearly in a quarter-final. This time, Samad showed growth — measured, mature, and match-aware.
Sahil Lotra: The Unexpected Game-Changer
Before the batters mounted their resistance, Sahil Lotra had already tilted the contest.
Originally not in the playing XI, Lotra was drafted in after allrounder Vanshaj Sharma picked up an injury. Ironically, Lotra himself had been nursing a niggle, spending much of the build-up on the treatment table.
He repaid the faith spectacularly.
His gritty 72 helped J&K post a commanding 546 in the first innings. Then, with steady off-spin, he tightened the screws.
Karnataka’s Mayank Agarwal and Kruthik Krishna stitched a stubborn 79-run partnership. Lotra broke it with a clever straighter delivery trapping Krishna lbw. The decision went upstairs, triggering nearly ten minutes of scrutiny from third umpire Virender Sharma. Multiple replays offered conflicting suggestions — inside edge or pad first?
The verdict stood. The breakthrough proved decisive.
Abid Mushtaq: Redemption and Control
Last season, heartbreak struck when Abid Mushtaq dropped a crucial catch against Kerala, allowing an 81-run last-wicket stand that denied J&K a semi-final berth.
This time, he sought redemption.
Interestingly, during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia recruited Mushtaq as a net bowler to replicate the accuracy of Ravindra Jadeja. In this final, he mirrored that precision — attacking the stumps relentlessly with subtle variations.
Mayank Agarwal, known for stepping out to dominate left-arm spin, found limited freedom. Mushtaq even induced an edge when Agarwal was on 124, though the chance went begging. He finished wicketless, but his control allowed other bowlers to attack.
Impact isn’t always measured in wickets.
Auqib Nabi Joins Elite Company
And then came Auqib Nabi.
Charging in tirelessly on an unresponsive surface, he made the ball talk — new and old alike. His five-wicket haul sealed the 2025-26 final emphatically.
In doing so, Nabi joined an exclusive list in Ranji Trophy history.
| Bowler | Season | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Dodda Ganesh | 1998-99 | 60+ |
| Jaydev Unadkat | 2019-20 | 60+ |
| Auqib Nabi | 2025-26 | 60+ |
Across 92 editions of the tournament, only these three pacers have crossed the 60-wicket mark in a single season.
Nabi’s achievement places him among the greats of Indian domestic cricket — and delivered Jammu & Kashmir to the cusp of immortality.
Also read: Ranji Trophy Final Marred by On-Field Altercation as Paras Dogra Fined 50% Match Fee
A Title Bound for the Valley
With Karnataka effectively out of contention, the trophy now appears destined for the Valley.
From Srinagar to Baramulla, from Akhnoor to Poonch, from Pulwama to Kargil and Jammu — the celebrations are already brewing.
This is more than a cricket victory. It is validation for a region that has long yearned for sporting recognition on India’s biggest domestic stage.
For qamran iqbal, who sprinted from airport runway to batting crease in less than 12 hours, it feels poetic. For Paras Dogra, it completes a circle 13 years in the making. For Abdul Samad, Sahil Lotra, Abid Mushtaq, and Auqib Nabi, it confirms belief.
