Transformations don’t happen in a jiffy. They take hard work, discipline, patience, trust — and above all, belief.
When Jammu and Kashmir lifted its maiden Ranji Trophy title (2025-26) after beating Karnataka in the final, its journey to the top was finally complete.
Three men shaping the team from behind the scenes— head coach Ajay Sharma, bowling coach Krishna Kumar, and fielding coach Dishant Yagnik — and five relentless years of dedication have played a key role in Jammu & Kashmir’s ascent from the fringes to a force to reckon with in the country’s premier domestic tournament, Ranji Trophy.
In the 2024-25 season, J&K reached the knockouts before being pipped by Kerala on the basis of a one-run first-innings lead in the drawn quarterfinal encounter.
This season, J&K had three outright wins, all against former champions: Rajasthan, Delhi and Hyderabad. The only setback came against Mumbai.
The side’s performance over the past two seasons isn’t a fluke. It is the outcome of vision, effort, and faith that a team once defined by mere “participation” could rise not just to compete — but to dominate.
In an exclusive chat with Sportstar, head coach Ajay Sharma, bowling coach Krishna Kumar, and fielding coach Dishant Yagnik reflected on the team’s success.
“Look, this is not a fluke — a lot of hard work goes behind the scenes. I’m like the head of the family, and they are like my children. They trust me,” Ajay said.
“This year, everyone is stepping up. There is healthy competition in the group — that’s the sign of a strong team. The self-belief has come, and I’m very happy with how they are shaping up. They’re hunting like a pack of wolves now,” he added.
Krishna Kumar said, “Earlier, certain aspects were ignored, but now everything is professional. Even a small misfield is discussed in meetings. That has made everyone responsible. We’re ticking most boxes.”
Yagnik added, “As a coaching unit — Ajay Sir, Krishna Sir, and I — we are strong believers in process over results. Our sole focus is to play to our potential, irrespective of the opposition. Our aim is clear: break our own past records.”
“What’s wonderful is that our coaching doesn’t end at 5 p.m. but continues through discussions and debates well into the night… It’s organic and collaborative.
Our philosophy is clear: if we continue to improve internally, the external results will follow.”The Jammu and Kashmir cricket team had a fairytale red-ball season in 2024-25, rising from the fringes to the centrestage. It reached the Ranji Trophy knockout phase, toppling 42-time champion Mumbai and humbling Baroda — both on their home soil.
Though J&K’s dream campaign ended by the narrowest of margins — a one-run defeat to Kerala in the quarterfinals — there was a sense of pride and belief in the ranks.
“The talent was always there, but to nurture it, we lacked proper infrastructure and training facilities. The real transformation began when Mithun Manhas took over in the 2021-22 season. He ensured that all necessary elements of a professional cricket set-up were in place,” Yagnik said.
“Credit also goes to Brigadier Anil Gupta and Sethi sir. Together with Mithun, the three of them created a roadmap and culture for J&K, and wanted it to be among the top three teams in the country.
“Call it a vision, a dream, or a claim… I truly believe that J&K will be the first side in Indian domestic cricket to win all three formats. When an outfit wants to win that badly, victory is not too far away,” he added.
The destination for J&K is finally here, but with the vision it now has, it might just be getting started.
