NEW DELHI: For Paras Dogra, captain of the J&K Ranji team that won the trophy this year, and his players, March 29 was one day they will cherish forever. For fast bowler Aquib Nabi from Kashmir, who was sold for over Rs 8 crore to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL), it was a day that will be etched in his memory permanently. And why not?
It was a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi mentioned both of them by name, hailing their individual brilliance and the team’s performance. Modi hailed J&K’s maiden Ranji Trophy victory, calling it a “historic” achievement during the 132nd episode of his monthly radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’.
In his address, the PM said the past month had been “full of excitement and enthusiasm” for cricket fans, highlighting India’s T20 World Cup triumph as well as J&K’s landmark domestic success. India’s T20 World Cup win has been a major fillip for cricket enthusiasts. After the victory, the BCCI had announced a purse of Rs 131 crore for the Indian team led by Suryakumar Yadav.
For the J&K team, the victory is still something so big that the players are being hailed as local heroes all over the Union Territory (UT). Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had hosted them, felicitated them, and there is admiration for the way Dogra led them. It was BCCI chief Mithun Manhas, someone from the Jammu region, who handpicked Dogra to lead the charge, and his faith proved right.
Referring to the triumph, Modi said, “By winning this match, the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team secured the Ranji Trophy. It is most heartening to note that, after a long wait of nearly seven decades, the team achieved its first Ranji Trophy title.” He credited the victory to years of sustained effort by players and support staff, singling out Paras Dogra for his leadership. He also praised young Kashmiri bowler Aaqib Nabi.
“Team captain Paras Dogra displayed extraordinary skills. Through his leadership, he played a significant role in this victory,” he said.
He added, “The performance of young Kashmiri bowler Aaqib Nabi, who took 60 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, is being talked about nationwide.”
The PM said the achievement has boosted enthusiasm for sports among youth in J&K and expressed hope that it would inspire more young people to take up sports.
“This impressive performance on the cricket field has further increased enthusiasm for sports among the youth there. In the future, it will inspire many young people to take up sports,” he said.
“The people of J&K have a tremendous passion for sports,” he added. Modi further noted that the region is emerging as a hub for major sporting events, citing the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg and the growing popularity of football among local youth.
Around the time Modi was speaking these words of praise for J&K cricketers, thousands of athletes were in the MAM Stadium in Jammu, having competed in the Jammu Marathon’s three events: a race of 21 km, a race of 10 km and a fitness event of 5 km. Saturday night’s rain and drizzle on Sunday morning failed to dampen their spirits. Two top men in the UT, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and CM Omar Abdullah, were there to compliment athletes who had come to participate in the marathon. Fitness icon Milind Soman, accompanied by his wife, celebrity actress Gul Panag and Omar, were among those who ran the races.
At the function where LG Manoj Sinha distributed prizes to the winners, he said the Jammu Marathon symbolises the profound transformation J&K has undergone since 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370.
“Peace, prosperity and enabling conditions have made the UT a destination for world-class events. Its dream realised at last, as after seven decades, J&K claims its rightful place on the global stage,” he said.
The first-ever International Half Marathon in Jammu, organised by the J&K Tourism department, featuring 21 km, 10 km and 5 km race categories, witnessed the participation of more than 3000 runners from across the country and abroad. Terming the Jammu Marathon as a historic milestone, Sinha said that Jammu has firmly established itself on the global running map. He said the success of the mega event promises a surge in tourism to the enchanting city of Jammu, benefiting trade and businesses and heralding an era of comprehensive development.
“I see the marathon as the one event where runners don’t worry about trophies, rankings, or medals. They just think about the next step. And that’s the biggest lesson from a marathon. Jammu Kashmir itself embodies this principle. Since 2019, we have advanced one step at a time, crafting a new identity for this Union Territory. We have transformed it into a hub of peace and prosperity, now capable of hosting international marathons, cricket tournaments, and even international events,” the LG said.
He said when the Government of India first conceived the Kashmir Marathon in a December 2023 meeting, the goal wasn’t just to organise a race, but it envisioned a new J&K announcing its arrival on the global sporting stage. “Under the leadership of PM Modi, Jammu Kashmir is now showcasing its boundless tourism potential on the world map,” he said.
“Through Jammu Marathon, the participants have not only discovered new experiences within themselves but also witnessed the profound changes sweeping Jammu Kashmir,” he said.
Sinha observed that, fueled by the citizens’ unyielding resolve, the Jammu Kashmir Union Territory is setting new benchmarks in development.
“The renewed resolve taking root in our sporting arena. I am especially delighted that, in pursuit of Fit India, we are also igniting a new sporting revolution in Jammu Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Department; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu and senior officials of civil and police administration were present.
Meanwhile, union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has expressed gratitude to PM Modi for complimenting the J&K cricket team. “Thanks PM @narendramodi ji for complimenting the #JammuAndKashmir Cricket Team for the historic Ranji victory,” Dr Singh posted on X.
He further wrote, “Your words of encouragement will go a long way in boosting the morale of the youth and providing a fillip to the sports culture in this peripheral region.”
Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Bhim Sen Tuti, IGP Jammu and senior officials of civil and police administration were present.
