SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir booked their place in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals after their Elite Group match against Himachal Pradesh ended in a draw due to rain on the fourth day at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium, Amtar. A first-innings lead proved decisive, ensuring JK’s qualification for the knockout stage, where they will face Madhya Pradesh.
After posting a massive 771 in their first innings, JK put Himachal Pradesh under early pressure in their second innings. However, rain washed out play, leaving Himachal at 26/2 in nine overs, still trailing significantly. The first-innings advantage was sufficient for JK to advance.
JK’s innings were highlighted by three centuries. Shubham Pundir staged a remarkable comeback with 165 runs, strengthening the middle order. Abid Mushtaq contributed a magnificent 177, while Kanhaiya Wadhwan also reached triple figures. Abdul Samad and Paras Dogra added crucial half-centuries, helping the team cross the 700-run mark in a high-stakes match.
This marks another quarterfinal appearance for JK, who have qualified for this stage three times in the past but have yet to progress further. Alongside JK, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Andhra, and Uttarakhand also secured their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal berths after favourable results in the final day of their seventh-round league matches.
