Riding on super shows from Qamran Iqbal and Aquib Nabi, Jammu and Kashmir Bagged a crucial victory over Bihar at The Iconic Eden Gardens Stadium Kolkata. The coin toss favored Jammu and Kashmir, who opted to bat first on a pitch that promised a good contest. Their innings, however, started tentatively, losing a quick wicket for just 5 runs. But then, stepping up to the challenge, came the young firebrand, Qamran Iqbal.
From the moment he arrived, Qamran Iqbal played with aggressive intent, laying a formidable foundation for his team. His knock was a masterpiece of T20 batting—combining power with precision. He hammered 64 runs off just 40 balls, including seven boundaries and three massive sixes, showcasing a strike rate of 160. Even as wickets tumbled around him, including a brief appearance by Vivrant Sharma (0 off 1) and the loss of Abdul Samad (16 off 11), Iqbal stood firm. His dismissal at the score of 102 was a crucial wicket, but the damage was done.
Crucial contributions from Yawar Hassan (27 off 22) and the captain, Kanhaiya Wadhawan (27 off 21), ensured the momentum wasn’t lost. Kanhaiya’s calm, anchoring knock proved he was not just a captain but a steady hand when required. J&K eventually posted a challenging total of 159/9 in their 20 overs. Bihar’s bowlers, especially Sakib Hussain and Mohammed Izhar, who each took two wickets, fought hard to keep the total within reach.
Bihar’s chase of 160 was instantly put under enormous pressure by the man of the moment, Auqib Nabi Dar. The fast bowler, clearly enjoying a purple patch in Indias Domestic Tournament, was relentless.
Nabi delivered an absolute masterclass in T20 bowling. While fellow fast bowler Umran Malik was expensive, giving away 50 runs, Nabi held one end tight, mixing his pace and line brilliantly. His final figures were simply phenomenal 4 overs, 2 maidens, 16 runs, and 4 wickets. An economy rate of 4.0 in a T20 chase is virtually unheard of. He dismantled the top and middle order, starting with the wicket of opener Mangal Mahrour and key wickets of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, S Gani, and Suraj Kashyap. The first three wickets, in fact, fell to Auqib Nabi, shattering Bihar’s batting lineup and leaving them reeling at 17-4.Bihar was never truly in the chase after Nabi’s initial burst. Though Akash Raj (28 off 32), Bipin Saurabh (19 off 6), and R Pratap Singh (19 off 20) tried to salvage the innings, the required run rate kept climbing. The young captain, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, marshaled his resources with impressive calmness for his first victory as a T20 captain. He effectively used the pressure created by Nabi. Yudhvir Singh Charak and Murugan Ashwin offered excellent support, bagging two wickets each and preventing any partnerships from flourishing.
In the end, Bihar was restricted to 125/9 in their 20 overs. Jammu and Kashmir won the contest by 34 runs, securing their second victory in three matches and cementing their upward trajectory in the tournament.
It was a complete team performance, but the headlines belonged to the emerging stars: Auqib Nabi Dar for his devastating spell, Qamran Iqbal for his match-defining innings, and Kanhaiya Wadhawan for steering his team to a well-deserved win. For J&K, this victory was a huge confidence boost, signaling that they are a serious contender in the Elite Group B.