Jammu and Kashmir’s Vanshaj Sharma with teammates celebrates after the team’s victory in the Ranji Trophy semifinal cricket match against Bengal, at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, in Kalyani on February 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Jammu and Kashmir cruised to a six-wicket win over a star-studded Bengal in the semifinals to reach its maiden Ranji Trophy final at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground here on Wednesday.
Last season’s quarterfinalist, J&K, resuming from 43 for two, achieved the remaining 83 runs in about two hours on day four.
After virtually throwing away the match due to its below-par second innings batting, Bengal knew that the writing was on the wall on a flatter track.
Mohammed Shami castled Shubham Pundir and Akash Deep had J&K captain Paras Dogra caught behind.
However, the visiting batters kept their focus with 22-year-old southpaw Vanshaj Sharma, promoted up the order, showing character and playing the anchor’s role well. He partnered with the big-hitting Abdul Samad for an unbeaten match-winning 55-run stand.
Vanshaj hit the winning shot, lifting Mukesh Kumar to the sight-screen, and saw his team-mates rush onto the field to celebrate the memorable win.
Dogra said, after conceding a slender lead, J&K focused on taking in-form Bengal batter Sudip Gharami’s wicket in the second innings. “Conceding a lead of 26 runs did not matter because we had seven sessions in hand. Never expected to restrict them to 99.”
Dogra, who was roped in by the then administrator Mithun Manhas for the leadership role this season, said, “From the beginning, we talked about winning the Ranji Trophy. It’s a good group. We are doing well because we have bowlers who can take 20 wickets.”
On bowling trump card Auqib Nabi, who took nine for 123 and scored 42 valuable runs to be adjudged player-of-the-match, Dogra said, “He is exceptional, has so much control over himself, has good work ethics and has been disciplined. He never gets satisfied and puts his hand up for any responsibility.”
Dogra said his team would keep it simple in the final as well.
The scores:
First innings
Bengal: 328
Jammu and Kashmir: 302
Second innings
Bengal: 99
Jammu and Kashmir: Shubham Khajuria b Akash 1, Yawer Hassan c Gandhi b Akash 6, Shubham Pundir b Shami 27, Vanshaj Sharma (not out) 43, Paras Dogra c Gandhi b Akash 9, Abdul Samad (not out) 30; Extras (lb-7, nb-3) 10; Total (for four wkts in 34.4 overs): 126.
Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-12, 3-50, 4-71
Bengal bowling: Shami 11-4-24-1, Akash 15-3-46-3, Mukesh 6.4-0-24-0, Shahbaz 1-0-13-0, Jaiswal 1-0-12-0
Published – February 18, 2026 01:38 pm IST
