New Delhi – In a dramatic finish at the nearly empty Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday, Qamran Iqbal hit a powerful cut that sent the ball over the boundary, sealing a 7‑wicket win for Jammu & Kashmir over Delhi. It was the first time in 91 years that the city’s team has beaten the capital in the Ranji Trophy.
Iqbal, who struggled in the first innings, steadied the chase in the final hour of day three and then finished an impressive 133 not out off 147 balls. The unbeaten century was his first at first‑class level and may mark a turning point in his career.
“I think this is the best knock of my life,” Iqbal told reporters after the match. “The coaches told me to play freely and I just kept the run rate up. Having a short target meant we could stay under pressure and keep scoring.” He praised his natural style, saying his one‑handed strokes helped him beat Delhi’s bowlers.
The victory didn’t come alone. J&K’s bowlers, including Auqib Nabi and Vanshaj Sharma who took a five‑for and a six‑for in the earlier innings, were crucial. “Their early breakthroughs kept the pressure on Delhi,” Iqbal said. “We also have good support from our coaches—Mithun Manhas, Brigadier Anil Gupta and Sunil Sethi—who helped us prepare before the season.”
Head coach Ajay Sharma, well‑known in the region, added that the team had studied the ground closely. “We watched how the wicket behaves each day and planned our strategy accordingly,” he said. The local knowledge helped the players adapt quickly to the varying conditions at Arun Jaitley.
Since junior cricket in Srinagar’s Karan Nagar, Iqbal has grown into a key player for the Jammu & Kashmir squad. A brief stint with the India U19 team in his youth didn’t halt his progress. Now he looks forward to the next match against Hyderabad, hoping to keep the momentum going.
“We’re excited to be on home turf,” Iqbal said. “If we play positively, we’ll carry the confidence to the next game. Our goal is to win as many matches as possible and ideally lift the Ranji Trophy. We’ll keep pushing hard in every game.”
Source: ianslive
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