J&K’s Ranji moment
Jammu and Kashmir cricket team has scripted history by reaching the final of the Ranji Trophy. It is after 67 years that the J&K team has achieved the feat. J&K defeated West Bengal by six wickets to book a place in the summit clash. The feat is not a mean achievement. Once considered a ragtag team, J&K has silenced all its critics by making the impossible possible. Last time, the team missed out after reaching the quarters. This time team made the entire Jammu and Kashmir proud. In a rare honor, the Legislative Assembly hailed the team’s performance. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, together with other legislators, congratulated the team for scripting history. This historic achievement has filled the entire region with pride and joy. On behalf of the House, the Speaker conveyed the best wishes to the players for the upcoming finals. What was truly inspiring was that J&K got its own heroes. Pacer Auqib Nabi took nine for 123 and scored 42 runs to be adjudged player-of-the-match. The 29-year-old pacer from Baramulla has taken 55 wickets in this season. Auqib Nabi will be wearing the Delhi Capitals jersey in the forthcoming Indian Premier League. He was sold for Rs 8.40 crore in the IPL auction. Starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, Auqib sparked a bidding war between DC and Rajasthan Royals. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad made the bidding process interesting when they joined the race. Ultimately, it was DC that got the prized catch. Known as ‘Dale Steyn of Baramulla’, Auqib’s raw pace with swing makes him the ideal choice in the shorter format of the game. Auqib has a unique record to his credit. He is only the third player to take a hat-trick in the Duleep Trophy. Indian legend Kapil Dev achieved the feat in 1979, and leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule made it to the record books in 2001. In fact, Auqib has been working hard to make his presence felt. He has been a consistent performer for the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Team. He took 10 wickets against Meghalaya in a Ranji Trophy match in Shillong. Earlier, the 29-year-old stunned the formidable Mumbai team. Having said so, the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association deserves kudos for reviving the team, which was considered done and dusted a few years ago. Earlier, JKCA was infamous for scams and mismanagement, which had affected the team’s performances. For the last few years, JKCA has worked hard on improving infrastructure and providing facilities to the team. All eyes are now on the Ranji final that will be played from February 24 onwards. People in Jammu and Kashmir are hoping that the team will bring the trophy home. It will be an early Eid gift to people in the holy month of Ramadan.