(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)
On February 28, 2026, cricket in Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a moment that generations of players and fans had only dreamed about. After a 67-year wait, the team lifted its first-ever Ranji Trophy title, defeating eight-time champions Karnataka cricket team in the 2025-26 final at KSCA Stadium.
The final ended in a draw, but Jammu & Kashmir’s commanding 291-run first-innings lead sealed the championship — a historic triumph in the Ranji Trophy.
Yet the journey to this glory was far from smooth. It was a road marked by controversy, political turbulence and two infamous episodes of pitch-digging that once tarnished the image of cricket in the region.
A Title Won After Decades of Turbulence
For decades, Jammu and Kashmir possessed what many cricket experts considered ideal natural conditions for fast bowling — cool climate, lively wickets and vast playing fields in Srinagar and Jammu.
Yet the region never managed to translate this advantage into consistent cricketing success.
Political instability, administrative challenges and lack of sustained national exposure kept the State on the margins of India’s cricketing map. But perhaps nothing damaged the reputation of the region’s cricket more than the two notorious incidents of pitch vandalism that occurred in 1983 and 1990 at Srinagar and Jammu respectively.
The First Shock: Srinagar Pitch Vandalism in 1983
On October 13, 1983, Srinagar hosted its first international One Day International at the Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium. The match, involving the India national cricket team, ended in controversy when twelve individuals allegedly vandalized the pitch during the lunch break.
The incident shocked the cricketing world. It instantly pushed Kashmir into international headlines — but for the wrong reasons.
Instead of celebrating the Valley’s entry onto the global cricket stage, the focus shifted to security concerns and the vulnerability of sporting events in the region.
(Readers interested in the full episode can explore the detailed account here: https://kashmir-rechords.com/vandalism-insurgency-and-1983-kashmir-cricket/)
The Second Blow: M.A Stadium Jammu Pitch Digging
If the 1983 incident was damaging, the second episode proved even more humiliating.
In December 1990, during a Ranji Trophy match between Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana, the pitch at M. A. Stadium Jammu was mysteriously dug up.
Newspaper reports from the time — now preserved by Kashmir Rechords — suggested the pitch may have been deliberately damaged to avoid an impending defeat against Haryana.
But the move backfired spectacularly.
Instead of saving the hosts from defeat, the match was awarded to Haryana, leaving Jammu and Kashmir cricket facing national embarrassment.
The timing could not have been worse. Jammu was preparing to host another One Day International between India and Bangladesh on December 25, 1990. The pitch controversy cast a shadow over the entire effort. The venue was ultimately shifted.
Newspaper reports preserved by Kashmir Rechords from December 1990 suggest that the pitch at M. A. Stadium Jammu was allegedly damaged to avoid an impending defeat against Haryana. The move, however, backfired, leading to the match being awarded to Haryana and further damaging Kashmir’s cricketing reputation.
For cricket lovers in the region, it was a double blow: The team lost the match and the region lost credibility as a venue for major cricket events.
How J&K Lost Its Cricketing Stage
The consequences of these controversies were long-lasting. While Jammu and Kashmir possessed picturesque stadiums and favourable playing conditions, national cricket authorities gradually shifted international fixtures elsewhere.
Neighbouring Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh — once considered a relatively minor cricketing centre — emerged as a premier venue. The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium eventually became one of India’s most scenic international cricket venues.
Many observers believe that had law-and-order conditions remained stable and the pitch controversies never occurred, major cricket events might have continued to be staged in Srinagar and Jammu instead.
A Long Wait Finally Ends
Over the decades, the waters of the Jhelum River and Tawi River have flowed on, carrying with them memories of missed opportunities and damaged reputations. But the triumph of February 28, 2026 marks a symbolic turning point.By lifting the Ranji Trophy after a 67-year wait, Jammu & Kashmir have not merely won a championship — they have rewritten a painful chapter in their sporting history.
Pitches that were once dug in despair have finally been replaced by a foundation for hope.
Timeline: Kashmir Cricket’s Journey from Controversy to Glory
1983 – International Debut Turns Controversial
During the first One Day International in Srinagar at Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium, the pitch was vandalized during the lunch break on October 13, 1983, triggering global attention and controversy.
1990 – Ranji Trophy Pitch Digging
In December 1990, the pitch at M. A. Stadium was mysteriously dug during a Ranji Trophy match between Jammu and Kashmir cricket team and Haryana cricket team, resulting in the match being awarded to Haryana.
1990s–2010s – Lost Opportunities
Because of security concerns and instability, international and major domestic matches gradually shifted away from Kashmir. Meanwhile, nearby Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh emerged as a major cricket venue.
2026 – Historic Redemption
On February 28, 2026, the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team finally lifted their first-ever Ranji Trophy, defeating Karnataka cricket team in the final at KSCA Stadium.