J&K qualify for quarterfinals after rain-hit draw against Himachal

Srinagar, Feb 1: Jammu and Kashmir booked their place in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals after their Elite Group match against Himachal Pradesh ended in a draw due to rain on the fourth day, with J&K securing a crucial first-innings lead at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium, Amtar.

After posting a massive 771 in their first innings, J&K had put Himachal under pressure early in their second innings before rain washed out any further play, forcing the match to be declared drawn. Himachal were 26/2 in nine overs at the time of stumps, still trailing by a substantial margin.

Officials from the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) confirmed that the first-innings lead was enough to seal J&K’s qualification for the quarterfinals, where they will face Madhya Pradesh in the knockout stage.

J&K’s commanding performance was built around a dominant batting display that saw three centuries from their batters. Shubham Pundir marked a strong comeback with a superb 165, silencing critics and strengthening the middle order. Abid Mushtaq came with a magnificent 177, while Kanhaiya Wadhwan also reached triple figures. Abdul Samad and Paras Dogra provided valuable support with half-centuries, ensuring J&K crossed the 700-run mark in a must-win encounter.

Reacting to the team’s overall performance, former J&K skipper Samiullah Beigh lauded the side’s mindset and composure under pressure.

“Cracking performance yet again, it speaks volumes about the mindset of this team. Scoring 700-plus runs in a crunch game was simply outstanding. Shubham Pundir making a grand comeback is a great sign for the middle order, which was the only weak link. Abid Mushtaq too must be buoyed with confidence after a splendid ton,” Beigh said.

Beigh also highlighted the consistent contributions from the lower middle order throughout the season, calling it a game-changer for the side.

“The lower middle order has been a game-changer for J&K throughout the season and must prepare to deliver against big teams in crunch games. Now the team must be given ample rest to recover for the all-important quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh,” he added.

J&K have qualified for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals three times in the past but failed to progress further. Beigh, however, expressed confidence that this campaign could be different.

“J&K have qualified for the quarterfinals three times before but have failed to go further. I am sure this time the team will go further and clinch the next three games. Looking forward to big players delivering in big games,” he said.

Shabir Ahmad, a cricket observer from Srinagar, said that with momentum firmly on their side and multiple players hitting peak form, J&K will now turn their focus to the knockout clash against Madhya Pradesh, hoping to script a historic run in the tournament.