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 too. The result is that teams which were virtually walkovers in the past are now not only winning the Ranji Trophy but also giving players who are match-winners for the country. The last decade has seen Saurashtra, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh and now Jammu and Kashmir winning the Ranji titles. Kerala were runners-up last year and Uttarakhand have got into the knockouts this year. This is most exciting indeed for Indian cricket. This win must be especially pleasing for Mithun Manhas, as he was the administrator for Jammu and Kashmir cricket when this transformation began, and today he is the BCCI President. Well done, Jammu and Kashmir.