Ranji Trophy semifinals | Cohesive work and self-belief take coach Ajay Sharma’s J & K to the cusp of history

When cricketers in their 20s carried Jammu & Kashmir’s 61-year-old coach Ajay Sharma on their shoulders and cheered for him, it spoke a lot about their bonding.

Having led J & K’s transformation from an underdog to a champion side in red-ball cricket, Ajay, a domestic giant and an ex-India player, was thrilled as his wards upset Bengal in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground here on Wednesday, ensuring their team’s maiden final.

Coming from Delhi’s strong cricketing background and having played six Ranji finals, Ajay had to adapt to J & K’s culture and make the players look beyond the Indian Premier League (IPL) after taking over as the coach in 2022-23.

“For me, coaching J & K was challenging. It took me some time to understand and bond with the young, talented kids. I had to come to their level. Slowly, I made them understand that if they applied a little, they could play for India. Many players adapted, improved their mindset [to play red ball] and worked hard. The results are in front of you,” said Ajay.

Ajay adds that Mithun Manhas, former J & K cricket administrator and current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, who debuted for Delhi under him, had a vision for the team. Looking for a batting coach, Manhas recruited seasoned middle-order batter Paras Dogra as the captain, and it worked wonders.

Ajay said the cohesive work of all members of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association helped build a strong team with decent bench-strength.

For Ajay, developing self-belief among players was important. “This year, we reached the Buchi Babu tournament semifinal. We beat big teams in away matches [in the Ranji Trophy] and gained self-belief. It’s all about self-belief and hard work,” said Ajay.