2 months ago
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Jammu and Kashmir skipper Paras Dogra connected Saturday (February 28, 2026) struggled for words aft guiding his broadside to a historical maiden Ranji Trophy title, calling it the "biggest" infinitesimal of his life.
Jammu and Kashmir etched their sanction successful the past books by clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy rubric connected the ground of a first-innings lead, aft the last against Karnataka ended successful a draw.
"I can't explicate to beryllium honest, I person nary words. At this time, it is the biggest happening successful my life. This volition beryllium the biggest gratitude I volition person successful my beingness earlier I spell distant from this world,” Dogra said aft the triumph.
"To beryllium honest, I person been fortunate to beryllium with JKCA, the guys person been phenomenal, they person been excellent, it is not astir the (playing) eleven, it is (about the) 14-15 guys, they are tremendous, they person been putting their hands up and they person been keen to triumph the matches. From the beginning, they were 100% definite that we going to triumph this Ranji Trophy.”
Having secured a monolithic 291-run pb connected Friday (February 27), J&K had tightened their grip connected the contention connected the 5th and last time with different commanding batting display, led by Qamran Iqbal.
Drafted into the playing eleven astatine the past minute, Iqbal responded with a match-defining unbeaten 160 to look arsenic 1 of the architects of J&K’s historical Ranji Trophy triumph.
Iqbal, who was not portion of the archetypal plans for the final, was flown successful aft seasoned opener Shubham Khajuria was ruled retired with an wounded connected the eve of the match.
He made the accidental number successful emphatic fashion, anchoring the 2nd innings arsenic J&K batted Karnataka retired of the contest.
"I'm feeling good. This is the archetypal clip our authorities has won a tournament. It's (due to) each the effort of the coaches, the boys and the administrators astatine JKCA. So, congrats to JKCA,” Iqbal said aft the win.
Recalling the abrupt call-up, the 24-year-old added: “I was a spot injured. I was astatine location erstwhile I got a telephone astatine 3:00 successful the morning. I caught a formation successful the evening. Then I came present astatine 8:00 successful the morning. So, it was fine.”
Iqbal had past played successful aboriginal January against Saurashtra but insisted helium stayed acceptable contempt being retired of the side. “I was preparing. I was practicing and playing matches truthful I was prepared.”
After managing conscionable six runs successful the archetypal innings, helium returned with a composed sound nether pressure, blending caution with assurance.
“It was some assurance and a tactic. It was a caller ball. It was Day 1. So, it was both,” helium said of his approach.
While celebrating the title, Iqbal besides acknowledged Karnataka’s effort.
“They person a precise bully team. They played well. So, congrats to JKCA.”
Iqbal and Sahil Lotra completed well-crafted hundreds en way to a match-wining 197-run unbeaten basal arsenic J&K swelled their wide pb to 633 runs.
Iqbal credited the administrators, coaching unit and elder players for laying the instauration of the triumph.
"First of all, I volition commencement with JKC administrators. Before Mr. Mithun, determination was Anil Gupta sir, and determination is Mr. Majid too. We had a batch of mentation successful pre-season. We were sent retired to play matches. We played (the) Buchi Babu (Invitational Tournament); we played (almost) everything."
Crediting manager Ajay Sharma, Iqbal said: "He is truthful focused for the team. He takes everything precise seriously. He doesn't instrumentality it lightly truthful this is the result.
"And past determination are elder players successful the team... they kept the ambiance good. Aqqi (Auqib Nabi) besides bowled exceptionally well. Everyone contributed (and) everyone played a bully role.”
Looking ahead, the opener kept his ambitions measured.
"Nothing much. (The) match-to-match absorption is on. We won today, it volition beryllium a celebration. Let's spot what happens successful the future."
