NEW DELHI: The final time Qamran Iqbal performed aggressive cricket, it took him almost 2,800 kms and a frantic 15 hours to get there. Referred to as up at quick discover, the 24-year-old endured a chaotic journey that has stayed with him ever since. This time, although, there isn’t a last-minute scramble. Iqbal arrived on the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) 4 days earlier than the Duleep Trophy, giving himself time to settle in and put together for the problem forward.Iqbal is certainly one of six members of Jammu & Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy-winning aspect picked for North Zone, and they’ll open their marketing campaign in opposition to West Zone from Sunday. My final Bengaluru journey was one thing else,” Iqbal tells TimesofIndia.com.
I arrived round 8 within the morning on match day and went nearly straight to the bottom.
Qamran Iqbal | J&Ok opener
Six months in the past, on February 23, a day earlier than the Ranji Trophy ultimate, Qamran Iqbal was stress-free at his dwelling in Srinagar when, round 3 pm, his telephone rang. Jammu and Kashmir wanted him in Hubballi, almost 2,800 kms away, after opener Shubham Khajuria was dominated out with an harm.The 24-year-old instantly launched into a cross-country journey, arriving on the venue barely an hour earlier than the toss. Lower than 24 hours after receiving the call-up, Qamran produced the innings of his life, scoring an unbeaten 160 within the second innings to steer Jammu and Kashmir to their maiden Ranji Trophy title, defeating Karnataka on the premise of the first-innings lead.Every part occurred all of a sudden,” he says.I left Srinagar that very same night time. I took a late-night flight and travelled by means of Delhi and Mumbai earlier than reaching Hubballi. I arrived round 8 within the morning on match day and went nearly straight to the bottom. A day earlier, I used to be elsewhere and all of a sudden I used to be taking part in a Ranji Trophy ultimate. It felt somewhat unusual.“I wasn’t feeling strain as such, however there was some journey fatigue. Nonetheless, it was wonderful as a result of everybody within the workforce contributed. It was really a workforce effort, and that is why we received. It was a dream come true for your entire workforce. Successful the Ranji Trophy was a particular feeling for everybody related to Jammu and Kashmir cricket. It felt actually good,” he continues.
Hubballi: Jammu and Kashmir’s Qamran Iqbal performs a shot on day 5 of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 ultimate cricket match between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir, at KSCA Cricket Stadium, in Hubballi, Dharwad district. (PTI Picture/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI02_28_2026_000156A)The teenager, who as soon as opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal for India Beneath-19, cherishes the Ranji Trophy triumph however insists it is just the start. Having been named in North Zone’s 15-member Duleep Trophy squad, he’s decided to attain greater issues.“I wish to obtain much more in my cricket profession. Successful the Ranji Trophy for the primary time made me very proud, and I used to be comfortable that I might contribute to the workforce’s success. However that is solely the start. I wish to obtain rather more,” he says.
Mithun sir has been working with us for the final 4 or 5 years and has created a superb construction through the low season. He often visits our camps, and we play tournaments just like the Buchi Babu Event and different invitational competitions earlier than the home season.
Qamran Iqbal
The key behind J&Ok’s success
Earlier this 12 months, Aqib Nabi, in an unique interview with TimesofIndia.com, spoke about how the arrival of P. Krishnakumar as bowling coach helped remodel his bowling. Qamran additionally credit the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Affiliation administration, notably present BCCI president Mithun Manhas, for making a roadmap that ultimately led to the historic Ranji Trophy triumph.“For the final two or three years, your entire help employees and administration have backed us fully. The affiliation often sends us on publicity excursions. Mithun sir has been working with us for the final 4 or 5 years and has created a superb construction through the low season. He often visits our camps, and we play tournaments just like the Buchi Babu Event and different invitational competitions earlier than the home season. It has made an enormous distinction,” says Qamran.
Qamran Iqbal of Jammu & Kashmir Ranji workforce on his method to 160 runs in opposition to Karnataka on the finals at Rajnagar KSCA cricket stadium in Hubbali on Saturday. (Picture: Syed Asif)
“Mithun sir has performed a large function in creating cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to the publicity he has given gamers through the low season, it turns into a lot simpler to carry out as soon as the home season begins. Ajay Sharma sir, our coach, has additionally been excellent. He has performed cricket on the highest stage, and the small technical suggestions he offers us are extraordinarily beneficial.”Qamran began as an U-14 in Jammu and Kashmir cricket. He believes the usual of the game and infrastructure has improved tremendously previously few years.
Since Mithun sir got here in, the services have improved lots. We now have various kinds of wickets to arrange on, together with turf wickets, grass wickets and spin-friendly surfaces.
Qamran Iqbal
“Since Mithun sir got here in, the services have improved lots. We now have various kinds of wickets to arrange on, together with turf wickets, grass wickets and spin-friendly surfaces. The general infrastructure has develop into significantly better, and gamers now have entry to every part they want.Earlier than each home season, we play tournaments just like the Buchi Babu Event in opposition to sturdy groups from different states. These matches construct confidence. Once you step into home cricket, you do not really feel prefer it’s your first recreation since you’ve already performed high quality cricket through the pre-season. That have has helped me immensely,” he says.The journeyQamran’s father, Dr. Iqbal, is a physician by career and a passionate cricket follower. It was he who inspired his son to pursue the game.My father took me to the bottom for the primary time. He wasn’t a cricketer himself, however he liked the sport and was very taken with cricket. He launched me to the game after I was taking part in Beneath-14 cricket on the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium,” he recollects.
Hubballi: Jammu and Kashmir’s Qamran Iqbal performs a shot on day 5 of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 ultimate cricket match between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir, at KSCA Cricket Stadium, in Hubballi, Dharwad district. (PTI Picture/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI02_28_2026_000064A)
“From there, I progressed by means of the age teams. I performed Beneath-16, then Beneath-19, represented North Zone and ultimately made it to the India Beneath-19 setup.”Qamran narrowly missed out on India’s squad for the 2020 Beneath-19 World Cup, however he nonetheless treasures his time with the nationwide junior aspect, the place he opened the batting alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal.“I used to be a part of that group and performed three sequence with the India Beneath-19 workforce. I wasn’t chosen for the World Cup squad, however being in that surroundings was an important studying expertise. I carried out fairly properly in India Beneath-19 cricket. I had a number of scores within the 80s and 90s, however I could not convert them right into a century. I believe that made the distinction, and I missed out,” he says.
