Ranji Trophy: Jammu & Kashmir Advances To Firstever Final What This Means For Indian Cricket?

The day, February 18, 2026, will be etched in Jammu and Kashmir cricket history as they reached their first-ever Ranji Trophy final. Jammu and Kashmir secured their place in the final of India's prestigious domestic tournament with a six-wicket win over Bengal in the semifinal of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 season at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani on Wednesday, February 18.

On the penultimate day of the semifinal. Jammu and Kashmir were set a 126-run target by Bengal, and the first-time finalists chased it down in 34.4 overs, riding on an unbeaten 55-run partnership between Vanshaj Sharma (43)and Abdul Samad (30) to complete a historic chase and seal a six-wicket win.

J & K create history as they defeat Bengal by 7️⃣ wickets to book their ticket to the #RanjiTrophy Final for the very first time Scorecard ▶️ @IDFCFIRSTBank twitter/VBKPD9I9mX

- BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 18, 2026

Earlier, Auqib Naib (4/36), Sunil Kumar (4/27), and Yudhvir Singh (2/29) rattled Bengal's batting line-up as they were bundled out for 99 in the second innings, giving Jammu and Kashmir a slender but achievable target and setting the stage for their historic final appearance.

After 67 Years, Jammu & Kashmir Inches Closer to Historic Triumph

Jammu and Kashmir's first participation in the Ranji Trophy was during the 1959-60 season, 25 years after the first tournament's inception in 1934. Before their maiden Ranji Trophy participation, Jammu and Kashmir had built their formal cricket structure with the formation of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) and played locally before gaining BCCI's affiliation in 1959.

The team's rise to the top was not easy, as they spent many seasons playing in the Plate Group/Group C tier, often struggling to make deep runs until gradual improvement saw them getting promotions to the higher groups, competing with elite teams. The first breakthrough for Jammu and Kashmir came during the 2013-14 Ranji Trophy season, when they made it to their first-ever knock, qualifying for the quarterfinal, where they lost to Punjab.

In the 2024/25 season, the team was on the brink of qualifying for the first-ever semifinal, only to see their quarterfinal clash against Kerala slip away from their hands after losing out on the first-innings lead in a hard-fought drawn match.

: & -! A BTS of the J & K dressing room as they groove to the rhythm of reaching the finals! PS: Wait for the last one #RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank twitter/oD1MPbq4hx

- BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 18, 2026

A season after a heartbreakingly missing out on the first semifinal berth at Ranji Trophy, Jammu and Kashmir bounced back with determination, dominating Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal and Bengal in the semifinal to finally secure a historic place in the tournament's final, fulfilling decades of hard work and perseverance.

Indian Cricket Fraternity Hails Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir's entry into their first-ever Ranji Trophy final has garnered widespread praise and acclaim from the Indian cricket fans and fraternity, with former players and cricket experts lauding the team's resilience, talent, and historic achievements.

Taking to their X handles (formerly Twitter), fans, former Indian cricketers, and experts lavished praise on Jammu and Kashmir for their massive achievement in Ranji Trophy history, taking note of their perseverance, skill, and their journey provides to young cricketers, while celebrating a historic and unifying moment for cricket in the region.

Jammu-Kashmir making it to their first-ever Ranji Trophy final is just awesome. What a season they've had and what a dramatic comeback against the mighty bowling of Bengal! Personally very happy for the coach Ajay Sharma paaji for instilling that spirit in the team - had seen... twitter/o3jKWi9DX8

- Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 18, 2026

What a moment for Indian domestic cricket! Jammu & Kashmir creating history by reaching their first-ever Ranji Trophy final. Congratulations The future looks bright! #ranjitrophy2026! twitter/JyYymCKKd0

- Suresh Raina (@ImRaina) February 18, 2026

Jammu and Kashmir beats Bengal to storm into the final of the Ranji Trophy a season this has been! twitter/SSAHJoArtz

- Shayan Acharya (@ShayanAcharya) February 18, 2026

Jammu & Kashmir have done it! Incredible run to the #RanjiTrophy final

- Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) February 18, 2026

Roughly six and a half decades!! That's how long it took for Jammu & Kashmir to make the finals of Ranji Trophy creating history is sweet, but this is even sweeter as this rise has been built on so much hard work and perseverance. Long live Jammu & Kashmir cricket!

- Gaurav Nandan Tripathi | गौरव नंदन त्रिपाठी (@Cric_Beyond_Ent) February 18, 2026

Historic moment for Indian domestic cricket!Jammu & Kashmir have stormed into their maiden #RanjiTrophy final a massive achievement. Heartiest congratulations to the entire team.#RanjiTrophy2026 twitter/nqOq1SVa2u

- Yusuf Pathan (@iamyusufpathan) February 18, 2026

Heartiest Congratulations to the J & K Cricket Team!The Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Team has created history by qualifying for the Ranji Trophy final, scripting a proud and golden chapter in the sporting journey of our Union Territory. This magnificent achievement is a testament to... twitter/PetATZRNG5

- Bhaijan Imtiyaz Chasti (@bonipan) February 18, 2026

History. Written. Heartiest congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team for reaching the Ranji Trophy Final for the first time ever!From the valley to the big stage - this is pride, passion, and pure belief stands tall today. twitter/2rpyunZBJM

- Aatif Khan (@aatif_khan_) February 18, 2026

Warm congratulations to the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Team on their outstanding semi-final win in the Ranji Trophy. Your dedication, discipline and teamwork have made the region proud. Best wishes for the final! #RanjiTrophy #JKCricket #PrideOfJK #ChampionsInMaking twitter/bsTHQkbOoJ

- amit singh (@AamitSng) February 18, 2026

History created! J & K reach their first-ever Ranji Trophy final So proud to see these boys take J & K cricket to new heights beauty, @ABDULSAMAD___1 what a knock! twitter/TC61

- Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 18, 2026

I really hope Jammu and Kashmir win the Ranji Trophy. This wouldn't just be a cricket victory. It would be a reminder that behind headlines are ordinary people chasing dreams in extraordinary conditions. Raghava (@belongs2raghu) February 18, 2026

I have a feeling our ranji cricket team will build bridges between jammu and Kashmir divisions! Historic achievement by JK, it will unearth a lot more hidden talent, suppressed interests etc! It is Just the beginning! @Samkaul @visheshkoul @himganj153 @cricfervor

- Idrees Mubarik (@doc_hormone) February 18, 2026

Jammu and Kashmir finished second behind the 42-time Ranji Trophy champions in Group D, with three wins, as many draws, and a defeat, and accumulated 24 points to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament. In the quarterfinals. Shubham Khajuria-led side defeated Madhya Pradesh by 56 runs in Indore to qualify for the first-ever semifinal.

In the final over, Jammu and Kashmir did not disappoint as they calmly held their nerves to complete their six-wicket chase, sealing a historic victory and qualifying for their first-ever final of the Ranji Trophy.

What Does J & K's Maiden Ranji Trophy Final Mean for Indian Cricket?

Jammu and Kashmir's qualification for the maiden Ranji Trophy is not only a moment to celebrate for cricket in the region but also Indian cricket as a whole, as it marked the shift from being 'perennial underachievers' to being recognized as a competitive and resilient side, capable of challenging established teams.

Jammu and Kashmir was slowly and steadily emerging as a new power centre in domestic cricket, inspiring young players and strengthening Indian cricket's depth. The team's advance to their maiden Ranji Trophy final has put the spotlight on the cricketers who played a big role behind the success, including the likes of Auqib Nabi, Abdul Samad, Vanshaj Sharma, Paras Dogra, Abid Mushtaq, and Sunil Kumar, among others, highlighting their crucial contribution throughout the season.

With Jammu and Kashmir making it to the final, Indian cricket has gained a fresh narrative of emerging talent and competitiveness. The Ranji Trophy was mostly dominated by Mumbai, while Karnataka, Delhi, Baroda, Gujarat, Saurashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha have traditionally been strong contenders, making Jammu and Kashmir's breakthrough into the final a remarkable shift in the landscape of Indian domestic cricket.

Victorious Jammu and Kashmir team.  @debasissen twitter/IRylXJwIv5

- Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 18, 2026

Since Jammu and Kashmir is from a region with a limited cricketing infrastructure and resources compared to traditional powerhouses, their rise to the Ranji Trophy final showcases their testament to perseverance, talent development, and the growing reach of Indian cricket beyond its conventional centers.

Shubham Khajuria-led side will now look to carry their momentum into the final, aiming to create another history by clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy title and further establishing Jammu and Kashmir as a rising force in Indian domestic cricket.

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