From participation to domination: Jammu & Kashmir’s rise as a force to reckon with in domestic cricket

Transformations don’t happen in a jiffy. It takes hard work, discipline, patience, trust — and above all, belief.

Three men and four relentless years of behind-the-scenes work have lifted Jammu & Kashmir from the fringes to establish it as a formidable force in the country’s premier tournament, the Ranji Trophy.

In the 2024-25 season, J&K reached the knockouts for just the third time, eventually handing Kerala a lead in the quarterfinal by the narrowest of margins: a solitary run. Before last year, the previous instance of the team making the knockouts was in 2019, when it lost to Karnataka in the last eight. This season, J&K sits second on the points table, only behind domestic giant Mumbai in Group D, after five rounds.

Three outright wins, all against former champions: first Rajasthan, then Delhi in its own backyard, and now Hyderabad at home. The only setback came against Mumbai.

Ajay Sharma, head coach of J&K, says the healthy competition for places in the side has helped the team perform well.
| Photo Credit:
SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR

The side’s performance over the past two seasons isn’t luck. It isn’t a fluke. It is the outcome of vision, effort, and faith that a team once defined by mere “participation” could rise not just to compete, but to dominate.

In an exclusive chat with the  Sportstar, head coach Ajay Sharma, bowling coach P. Krishna Kumar, and fielding coach Dishant Yagnik reflected on the team’s rise.

Sharma highlighted the strong start: “Three outright wins already. Honestly, had we not let Mumbai off the hook, we could’ve been on top of the table right now.”

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“Look, this is not a fluke — a lot of hard work goes behind the scenes. I’m like the head of the family, and they are like my children. They trust me,” said Sharma.

“This year, everyone is stepping up. There is healthy competition in the group — that’s the sign of a strong team. The self-belief has come, and I’m happy with how they are shaping up. They’re hunting like a pack of wolves now,” added Sharma.

Krishna Kumar said, “Earlier, certain aspects were ignored, but now everything is professional. Even a small misfield is discussed in meetings. That has made everyone responsible. We’re ticking most boxes.”

Yagnik added, “As a coaching unit — Ajay sir, Krishna sir, and I — we are strong believers in process over results. Our sole focus is to play to our potential, irrespective of the opposition. Our aim is clear: break our own past records.”

Published on Nov 20, 2025