Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday (February 28) announced a cash prize worth INR 2 crore for the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team for winning the Ranji Trophy title for the first time.
Abdullah termed it as a watershed moment for Jammu and Kashmir cricket, adding that the historic triumph has filled the entire region with pride and inspiration.
Taking to X, J&K CM confirmed the whopping cash reward for the players and support staff after their "emphatic" victory over Karnataka on their home turf.
Omar Abdullah was in the stands at the KSCA Cricket Ground as J&K inched closer to a historic maiden Ranji Trophy title on the fifth and final day of the title clash.
"I am in Hubballi to cheer the J&K cricket team as they seal a historic win. There hasn't been a single day in this five-day final when the team has not dominated the opposition," Abdullah said.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated the Paras Dogra-led J&K side for scripting history by clinching the premier first-class tournament.
“Congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir team for their first ever Ranji Trophy win! This historic triumph reflects remarkable grit, discipline and passion of the team. It is a proud moment for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and it highlights the growing sporting passion and talent there. May this feat inspire many young athletes to dream big and play more,” PM Modi tweeted.
Jammu and Kashmir defeated Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final on the basis of their first winnings lead.
After opting to bat, J&K racked up a mammoth 584 runs in their first innings on the back of a dominant batting performance where five batters scored 50-plus runs. Key contributions included a 121-run knock from Shubham Pundir and a significant score of 72 from Sahil Lotra.
With the ball, J&K bowled out Karnataka for 293, thanks largely to pace spearhead Auqib Nabi's five-wicket haul (5/54), gaining a huge first innings lead of 291 runs. Mayank Agarwal waged a lone battle for Karnataka as he hit a superb century (160).
J&K’s lead was then extended to 633 in the second innings as Qamran Iqbal (160*) and Lotra (101*) slammed hundreds. The match ended in a draw on Day 5, with J&K winning via their first winnings lead.
