Opener Qamran Iqbal notched up an unbeaten century to guide J&K home against Delhi on the final day of their Ranji Trophy match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
At 11.33 a.m. on Tuesday, a victorious roar reverberated at a near-empty Arun Jaitley Stadium as Qamran Iqbal’s cut pierced the infield and sped away for a boundary. With it, a historic seven-wicket win was sealed by Jammu & Kashmir against Delhi on the final day of their Elite Group-D Ranji Trophy clash, a first in the competition’s 91-year existence.
The commanding victory was just the latest illustration of how there is no longer a gulf between last season’s quarterfinalist and the traditional heavyweights. Having already beaten Mumbai twice in three meetings in the First Class tournament, J&K has now vanquished the seven-time Ranji champion in the national capital.
Qamran delivered the finishing touch to a collective performance, with an unbeaten 133 off just 147 deliveries in a chase of 179. If there was a sliver of ambiguity about the outcome heading into the final day, it evaporated in a flash as the opener’s onslaught helped J&K, on an overnight score of 55 for two in 15 overs, motor along to the target in 43.3 overs. Auqib Nabi and Vanshaj Sharma played their parts with the ball earlier in the contest.
Vanshaj, who had come in as night-watchman on the third day, was the only one dismissed on Tuesday. But by then, having consumed 60 deliveries for eight runs in a third-wicket alliance of 82 with Qamran, the left-hander had succeeded in frustrating the Delhi bowlers.
Qamran sent the host on a leather hunt, repeatedly pouncing on the loose deliveries offered by a profligate attack. Pace spearhead Simarjeet Singh leaked 39 runs in six wicketless overs.
When Qamran walloped left-arm tweaker Manan Bhardwaj down the ground for a four, the 24-year-old from Srinagar brought up his maiden First Class ton seven years after making his debut. It was one of many moments over these four days that J&K will reflect on with unfettered joy.
The scores:
Delhi — 1st innings: 211.
Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: 310.
Delhi — 2nd innings: 277.
J&K — 2nd innings (Target 179): Qamran Iqbal (not out) 133, Shubham Khajuria b Bhardwaj 8, Vivrant Sharma b Shokeen 3, Vanshaj Sharma lbw b Shokeen 8, Paras Dogra (not out) 10; Extras (b-12, lb-5): 17; Total (for three wkts. in 43.3 overs): 179.
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-52, 3-134.
Delhi bowling: Simarjeet 6-0-39-0, Bhardwaj 13-0-46-1, Shokeen 15.3-3-52-2, Badoni 3-1-2-0, Grewal 2-0-5-0, Mathur 4-0-18-0.
PoM: Auqib Nabi
Published – November 11, 2025 05:35 pm IST
