Bishen Singh Bedi changed Jammu & Kashmir’s cricketing mindset, says Parvez Rasool

When Parvez Rasool debuted for India in June 2014 versus Bangladesh in an ODI, he broke the glass ceiling. It was the first time a cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir was representing the country.

The latest breaking-the-barrier moment has come in the Ranji Trophy, with the State ready to play Karnataka in Hubballi from Tuesday its maiden final. And the former skipper, quite understandably, is chuffed.

“It’s a proud moment for all of us associated with J&K cricket,” Rasool told Sportstar. “Coming from the smaller States, these things matter a lot. And red-ball cricket is real cricket – batting, bowling and fielding are all tested and for long periods.”

J&K played the Ranji quarterfinals in 2013-14 and 2019-20 under Rasool’s captaincy, but it was last year that it turned into a real force to reckon with. It lost out on a semifinal berth after conceding an agonisingly narrow one-run first-innings lead to Kerala but has bounced back from that heartbreak sensationally.

“I will go back to the time when Bishen Singh Bedi sir came into J&K cricket [2011] and that’s when our mindset changed,” said the 37-year-old, who played 75 Ranji matches.

“Before that, only participation was enough. But the great man told us ‘ Beta, go and compete. You have the skills’. Getting to the quarters, and then the final now, are all part of the same process.

“Earlier we did not have many inspirations because we didn’t do much in domestic cricket and there were hardly any games back home. And unless you win, nobody cares.

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“Now, entire J&K is following us and expectations are building. I hope we play Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali finals also.”

One of the biggest drivers of J&K’s recent success has been speedster Auqib Nabi, player of the match in both the quarters (vs. Madhya Pradesh) and semis (Bengal).

The 29-year-old right-arm pacer has bagged 55 wickets in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, only four shy of leader Mayank Mishra. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker in 2024-25 with 44 scalps. Admirably, he has been the only pacer in the top five in both seasons.

“At one point, there was Nabi, and there was the rest of India,” Rasool said, with a proud laugh. “The way he has maintained his body to bowl 30 to 40 overs per game across two seasons is unbelievable.

“And he is also doing well against strong teams. He played Duleep Trophy and took a hat-trick [four in four balls]. He has been phenomenal and hopefully we win the title.”

Published on Feb 22, 2026