J&K’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph after beating the country’s best known sides gives a newfound direction to youngsters in the region, creating newer role models in a state that has had troubled times

The Jammu and Kashmir team celebrates as skipper Paras Dogra lifts the Ranji Trophy in Hubballi on Saturday. Pic/PTI

The Jammu and Kashmir team winning the National Championship for the Ranji Trophy is the best news that has come for Indian cricket in a long while. Here is a state which has had troubled times with youngsters led astray by false promises and now by winning the Ranji Trophy there are newer role models for a state, which was under siege for so long. Over the last dozen years or so, cricket started to give a newfound direction to the youngsters there and now it has culminated in winning the Ranji Trophy. These last years, they have beaten the best-known sides in the country and to beat Karnataka in their first final at their home ground must be most satisfying indeed.

The Indian Premier League has given Indian cricket players from far-flung corners of the country, thanks to the excellent TV coverage in different languages........

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