PM Modi congratulated the Jammu & Kashmir cricket team for its historic first-ever Ranji Trophy triumph, calling it a proud moment for the region and an inspiration for young athletes.
Jammu and Kashmir's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Ranji Trophy (Photo: IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the Jammu & Kashmir cricket team for its historic first-ever Ranji Trophy triumph, calling it a proud moment for the region and an inspiration for young athletes.
Taking to X, the Prime Minister wrote:
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“Congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir team for their first-ever Ranji Trophy win! This historic triumph reflects the remarkable grit, discipline and passion of the team.
It is a proud moment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and it highlights the growing sporting passion and talent there. May this feat inspire many young athletes to dream big and play more.”
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Congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir team for their first ever Ranji Trophy win! This historic triumph reflects remarkable grit, discipline and passion of the team. It is a proud moment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it highlights the growing sporting passion and… pic.twitter.com/3fJO89Z5F8
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 28, 2026
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who witnessed the historic final in Hubballi, sanctioned a cash reward of Rs 2 crore for the team and also offered government jobs to those players who wish to join public service.
In a post on X, Abdullah wrote:
“The players will also be entitled to government appointments under the recently notified rules for outstanding sportspersons. Calling it a watershed moment for Jammu and Kashmir cricket, this landmark win has filled the entire region with pride and inspiration. Cheer for the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team, which had taken a massive first-innings lead and was almost certain of lifting the trophy for the first time.”
Congratulating Team J&K on their historic triumph in the Ranji Trophy, the Chief Minister announced a cash reward of ₹2 crore for the players and support staff after their emphatic victory over Karnataka on their home turf.
Calling it a watershed moment for Jammu & Kashmir… pic.twitter.com/OnRJCa1EoB
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) February 28, 2026
Former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar hailed J&K’s journey as “beautiful” in a post on X, noting:
“The Kashmir willows have been a part of many champions’ kits. To see Jammu & Kashmir’s journey from being an enabler of champions to becoming champions themselves is beautiful. The season was built on consistency, resilience, and season-long excellence. Auqib Nabi’s impact with the ball stood out in a demanding campaign. A historic moment for the team, coaches, and support staff. Journeys like these define the beauty of domestic cricket.”
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif added:
“Historic day for Jammu & Kashmir cricket. Having led UP to its first Ranji Trophy title, I know what this moment means to the players and the state. More players from J&K will now believe that they too can do it.”
The Kashmir willows have been a part of many champions’ kits. To see Jammu & Kashmir’s journey from being an enabler of champions, to becoming champions themselves, is beautiful.
The season was built on consistency, resilience, and season-long excellence. Auqib Nabi’s impact…
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 28, 2026
Other former cricketers also celebrated the team’s historic triumph
Irfan Pathan: “Many congratulations to J&K cricket for creating history by winning the first-ever Ranji Trophy. I never had even a shadow of a doubt that you guys will achieve this and many more trophies.”
Aakash Chopra: “Jammu & Kashmir, you beauty. The story for the ages. So so happy for what our boys have achieved. Indian cricket is in a safe and happy place.”
Yuzvendra Chahal: “An Inspiring journey for anyone who loves red ball cricket. Jammu and Kashmir have not only etched their name in history but have shown everyone what sheer grit, sweat, and hard work can truly achieve. Many congratulations to the whole squad.”
Shikhar Dhawan: “Historic moment for Jammu & Kashmir cricket. Maiden Ranji Trophy title built on belief, strong leadership from Paras Dogra, and a remarkable season with the ball from Auqib Nabi. Big contributions from Shubham Pundir, Yawer Hassan, Qamran Iqbal, Sahil Lotra, Abdul Samad, and the entire unit. Proud moment.”
Harbhajan Singh: “Will to win, that’s what matters. What a day for Jammu & Kashmir. Well done, simply outstanding, winning the Ranji Trophy isn’t easy at all. They have played terrific cricket throughout the season and played like a unit: many congratulations and many more trophies to come. Great to see Cricket growing in the Jammu and Kashmir region.”
Yuvraj Singh: “Unbelievable! History has been written today! Huge congratulations to the Jammu & Kashmir team for clinching their maiden #RanjiTrophy title after 67 long years! Dominating Karnataka with pure grit, heart, and unbreakable spirit. Proud beyond words of #AuqibNabi’s fire, #QamranIqbal’s masterclass, and the entire squad and training staff’s belief! J&K cricket has arrived! Keep shining, boys!”
Suresh Raina: “Congratulations on the maiden Ranji Trophy, Jammu & Kashmir.”
J&K batter Shubham Pundir, who was named Player of the Match in the final, described the team’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph as a “fairytale” moment, saying:
“It still feels surreal. It feels like a fairytale. But I think for our region, for all the players, and for the management, this is a huge achievement. Everyone has worked so hard for so many years, so I think this is a great accomplishment.”
On his match-winning innings, Pundir explained:
“The aim was to bat as long as possible. Our plan was ideally to aim for 500-600 runs. But more than the exact number of runs, the focus was on batting for as long as we could. We tried to build a long innings. I think my plan was to see off the new ball as much as possible – play straight and safely early on – and then look to attack the spinners. That’s what the wicket demanded. There was some movement with the new ball, so the idea was to get through that phase. After that, there wasn’t much assistance for the spinners. I think I really enjoy batting with both of them (Yawer and Samad). With Yawer, there are always a bit of fun and light moments in between. With Samad, it’s a different kind of enjoyment because he takes the pressure away from you with his attacking style. I really enjoyed batting with both of them.”
On his personal development, he added:
“I think my outside-off-stump play and some aspects of my front-foot game – I’d like to improve there. Next year, you’ll definitely see improvement.”
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