Ajay Sharma, J&K head coach — How we built Jammu & Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy champions

Mithun Manhas (BCCI President), the architect of Jammu and Kashmir’s rise as a force in domestic cricket, had debuted under my captaincy and believed I could deliver. The players were doing well with the white ball, but they needed someone to shine with the red ball. I insisted they adopt a winning approach with a changed mindset. They had been participating, not looking to win. I changed that. J&K would no longer be taken for granted.

I was in Thailand on holiday when Mithun called me (2022) and convinced me to apply. Honestly, I was reluctant because I was coaching the Delhi Under-19 team at Rohan Jaitley’s request. I was looking for a promotion in Delhi, but it didn’t happen. I applied for the J&K job just before the deadline. I was apprehensive, but on Mithun’s word, I took up the assignment. I joined the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (with voting rights) after giving up my membership of the Delhi and District Cricket Association. I was determined to move on.

It was a hard grind. With basic facilities, we faced the challenge of providing the boys with meaningful infrastructure. There was a process followed by the formation of a sub-committee. Jay Shah (then BCCI Secretary) monitored the process and provided funding. I was given absolute power to select the team, with transparency in the process.

We organised red-soil pitches to prepare for the bounce we encounter when competing outside the state. It was a handicap since we have only two grounds (Science College, Jammu, and the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium). We started playing in tournaments like the Buchi Babu (in Chennai) and the JP Atray (in Chandigarh). I knew we would be on the road for eight months, and I prepared the boys for it. We got the necessary exposure and also invited teams to keep the preparations going.

Playing the semifinals of the Buchi Babu last year was a boost. We started believing in ourselves. The batters applied themselves and gained toughness and physical fitness. The one-run loss in the Ranji Trophy 2025 quarterfinal was a lesson. The team realised the importance of one run. Shoulders did not drop. We had a committed team with several matchwinners.

Auqib Nabi and Abdul Samad are precocious talents. I have not seen a bowler like Nabi. We brought in Paras Dogra to lead the team. His father (cricketer Kultar) was my friend. Dogra brought professionalism. We were on a mission now. Bowling coach P. Krishnakumar and fielding coach Dishant Yagnik made the support staff a great force. Discipline was never compromised.

We were inspired by the team’s brilliant performances — beating Baroda, Mumbai, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka (in their own dens). The team developed solid confidence. This season, we lost to Mumbai at home. On a seaming pitch, their left-arm spinner (Shams Mulani) took seven wickets. Otherwise, we were beating big teams without a star.

We had to develop the habit of winning, one game at a time. Play the game, not the opponent. We had the talent to do it. My challenge initially was remembering their names. It took time to recognise them. I had to paste their photos on plain paper and memorise them. But I did it. I was hard on them at first, shouting at the players. That was not good because they had made up their minds to pack me off. They gave negative feedback and complained to the association. I changed my approach.

The players were naive. I don’t blame them. Many did not even know the names of some of our cricket greats. I had to tell them who Gary Sobers, Sunil Gavaskar and G.R. Vishwanath were. I introduced cricket culture and explained Indian cricket’s history. I gained more respect when L. Balaji (former India speedster) introduced me to the players during the Buchi Babu tournament as the ‘father’ of centuries.

I ensured that only performers would play. They changed their approach to batting — even stepping out on the first ball. I instructed them: “No hitting the ball in the air in the nets,” and I was strict about it. But it was a lovely group. We told them we would back them, and they responded warmly. I treated them like family. I only wanted the team to win. We created a healthy environment in the dressing room. Taught them cricket language, and they improved so fast. I drilled into their system that only winning matters.

For me, it is a rebirth. I went through difficult times in my life. Cricket was lost to me. For two years, I did not step out of my house. My bank balance was zero while I fought Income Tax cases (for 10 years). I was lucky to have a public-sector job to support my family.

I found a mentor in (police inspector) Ajay Yadav, who gave me the opportunity to coach at his TNM Cricket Academy in Indirapuram in 2016. I concentrated on my coaching career. Brig. Anil Gupta (administrator) and Mithun were integral to my comeback.

I would like to acknowledge the support of my family (wife Sanjana, sons Manan and Nipun, and daughter-in-law Aanchal), who have stood by me like a rock. I remember my guru, Tarak Sinha, who taught me the essence of cricket. I am happy to be the coach of a champion team. I am thankful to JKCA and Jay bhai for giving me a new role in cricket. I look forward to enhanced responsibilities in J&K.