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February 19, 2026. And it was a fairytale in the world of cricket witnessed when Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) made its write-up in the history of Indian cricket by qualifying as the Ranji Trophy finalists after its 69-year existence. The Union Territory underdog team shocked and upset all by beating the powerhouse Karnataka by 7 wickets in the semi-final at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and became a final participant among either Mumbai or Tamil Nadu.

The process of J&K has been too extraordinary. The team was due for some shocking performances and close escapes, upon which the head coach, Paras Dogra, and an old all-rounder, Shubham Pundir, gave the team a new impetus. The semi-final was an act of dogged desire. Karnataka had scored 412 in the first innings; however, J&K were not silent, with 481, thanks to the work of their opener Shubham Khajuria at 187 and of their wicketkeeper-batsman Fazil Makaya at 112 (unofficially). Next, the bowlers followed, with the left-arm spinner Yudhvir Singh taking 6/89 in the second innings in order to bowl Karnataka out at 238 and leaving it at 170.

J&K did not panic, and they made it through the under lights chasing, wearing pitch, and losing early wickets. Shubham Pundir (78*) and the middle-order batter Vivrant Sharma (65*) formed an uninterrupted 142-run partnership to close the run after securing 7 wickets and still having lots of time to spare. And when Vivrant reached the winning line, the J&K dugout went mad—they hugged each other, shedding tears, and the coaching staff placed Paras Dogra on their shoulders.

The triumph is historic for an area that has struggled all along to be seen as a recording in the area of domestic cricket. This was the first time that J&K had moved past the quarter-finals. The disciplined batting, quick spin bowling, and fearless cricketing that characterize this year's campaign have brought as much joy to the entire Union Territory. Social media was overwhelmed with pride: The hashtags J&KFinal, RanjiHistory, and ShubhamPundir are trending across the country.

After the match, Captain Shubham Pundir expressed himself thus:

This belongs to every child in Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh—to the child who took a bat in his hand and had loftier ambitions. We fought, we worked, and we made history.

The last of them will take place in late February or early March 2026. J&K have already made it to the hearts, whether they have been the Ranjee trophy lifters or not. A tiny state has demonstrated that dreams, when pursued with bravery, can change history, as has been witnessed by the snow-capped mountains all the way to the cricket playing fields of Chennai.

Jai Hind! Jai J& K!