When team mentor Irfan Pathan opted for other priorities rather than leading the side in the middle and its skipper Parvez Rasool getting injured ahead of crucial first match, it was expected that J&K Ranji team would be low on morale but that has not been the case so far.
Despite Irfan Pathan preferring commentating on television than to be the team and Parvez Rasool hiding his injury till last moment, J&K Ranji trophy team lead by youngster Shubham Pundir has done extremely well in the opening two matches of the prestigious Ranji trophy.
In its first two matches , playing away from home , J&K Ranji side without its star presence have registered two big wins. They defeated Uttarakhand in the opening match and then went on to beat star studded Maharashtra in their own den.
As there is not proper record available at this moment in Kashmir, it may be first time in J&K Ranji trophy history that they may have won first two Ranji trophy matches in the season. It can get better when they take on Assam in Jammu from December 25. J&K would be having chance to register third consecutive victory of the Ranii trophy season and create history.
Looking at the points table and looking at the teams in the group, J&K this time have got excellent chance of qualifying for the next round. Infact after defeating Maharashtra, other sides would be looking at them as favorites.
A former cricketer said that absence of Irfan Pathan and Parvez Rasool may have proven bless in disguise for the team as the team management lead by its coach would be expressing themselves freely.
“It is proving a turning point in the fortunes of J&K team. Irfan and Parvez may have been doing things that are for the welfare of cricket but the decisions and strategy they were having during matches was leading team nowhere. In their presence I believe coach, and other management wouldn’t have been any say in the decision making. As they both are not in the team current , team has done well,” a former player said.
“As a cricket follower and cricket follow of J&K team, I would prefer to keep these two away from team till the winning run continues. If this is working then there is no need to change the combination and think tank,” he added.