Jammu and Kashmir beat Bengal by six wickets to reach their maiden Ranji Trophy 2026 final

Jammu and Kashmir cricket team created history by reaching their first-ever Ranji Trophy final. They defeated the former champions Bengal cricket team, by six wickets in the 2026 semifinal on Wednesday. Chasing a target of 126 runs on the fourth day, they won the match comfortably. Abdul Samad and young player Vanshaj Sharma finished the game calmly, while pacer Auqib Nabi took nine wickets in the match and played a key role in the victory.

The Paras Dogra-led side will now face the winner of the second semifinal between the Karnataka cricket team and the Uttarakhand cricket team. The final will begin on Tuesday, February 24. It is a big moment for the team and their fans.

The side first played in the Ranji Trophy in the 1959-60 season and was not seen as a strong team for many years. In the 2013-14 season, they reached the knockout stage for the first time in more than ten years, and now they have reached their first final.

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Calm Finish Seals Historic Final Spot

The team started the day at 43 for 2 and faced some early pressure. But the batters stayed patient and played smart cricket. Abdul Samad scored 30 not out from 27 balls, while Vanshaj Sharma made a steady 43 not out. They added 55 runs together and guided the side to victory without any late trouble.

There were tense moments after Shubham Pundir got out and captain Paras Dogra was caught behind. However, Bengal could not keep the pressure for long. In a special moment, Samad allowed young Vanshaj to finish the chase. The 22-year-old hit a six over long-on to complete the win and spark celebrations.

From Struggles to a Dream Run

For many years, the side had little success in the Ranji Trophy. They had played more than 300 matches before this season, and knockout appearances were rare. This time, under captain Paras Dogra and coach Ajay Sharma, the team showed great improvement after an early loss to Mumbai. Wins against Rajasthan, Delhi, and Hyderabad helped them reach the knockouts.

Bengal, despite having big names like Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep, were bowled out for 99 in the second innings. Auqib Nabi once again led the charge with nine wickets in the match, taking his season tally to 55. His strong bowling and useful runs with the bat played a key role in this memorable journey to the final.

Brief Scores:

• Bengal: 328 and 99
• Jammu and Kashmir: 303 and 126/4
• Result: Jammu and Kashmir won by 6 wickets