Srinagar, October 17:A pulsating third day at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium set up a thrilling finale in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 opener between Jammu & Kashmir and Mumbai.
As the contest heads into its final day, the home side J&K stands within striking distance of a remarkable third consecutive win over the 42-time champions — something no other team from the region has ever achieved.
At stumps on Friday, J&K reached 21 for one in pursuit of 243, needing another 222 runs with nine wickets in hand. The equation is simple but loaded with history: Mumbai, the most successful team in Ranji history, has never beaten Jammu & Kashmir in the competition. In fact, J&K stunned Mumbai twice in their previous two encounters — in 2014-15 at Wankhede and again in 2022-23 at Thane — and now eye a rare 3-0 hat-trick of victories over the domestic giants.
If the hosts dare to dream again, it’s largely thanks to their pace spearhead Auqib Nabi, who delivered a spell of controlled fury to keep the contest finely balanced. The 28-year-old right-arm pacer from Baramulla tore through Mumbai’s much-vaunted batting lineup to claim figures of 5 for 52 in 16 overs — his 10th five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket. His incisive bowling helped J&K bundle out Mumbai for just 181 in their second innings, despite conceding a first-innings lead earlier in the day.
Earlier, J&K resumed its first innings at 273 for seven and managed only 52 more runs before being bowled out, giving Mumbai a 61-run cushion. But Nabi’s relentless accuracy turned the tide almost instantly. He dismissed Musheer Khan leg-before early, found the edge of Ajinkya Rahane for a sharp catch behind by Kanhaiya Wadhawan, and soon had Ayush Mhatre trapped in front.
Even the in-form Sarfaraz Khan, who briefly looked composed for his 32, was undone by Nabi’s precision. Mumbai’s lower order, which had relied on Shams Mulani and Akash Anand to stabilize the innings, was swiftly dismantled once their 50-run stand was broken.
Needing 243 for victory, J&K began cautiously, but opener Shubham Khajuria’s early dismissal gave Mumbai a glimmer of hope. Still, with plenty of batting to come — including skipper Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, and Vivrant Sharma — the hosts remain optimistic about chasing down the target.
For Mumbai, it’s a matter of pride and redemption. The 42-time champions, led by Ajinkya Rahane, find themselves once again staring at the possibility of defeat against a side that has repeatedly defied the odds against them.
As the teams return on Saturday, the script couldn’t be more compelling: can J&K script a historic hat-trick of wins over Mumbai, or will the champions summon all their experience to turn the tables?
Either way, the Ranji season has found its early thriller — right in the heart of Srinagar.