‘We just have to be stubborn’: Paras Dogra’s 24-year wait finds meaning as J&K reach historic Ranji Trophy final

A long domestic career and years of persistence came together for Paras Dogra as he led Jammu and Kashmir cricket team into their first-ever Ranji Trophy final with a six-wicket win over Bengal on Wednesday.

“Cricket tests you far more than it rewards you,” he said, as cited by news agency PTI, after guiding the team to its first Ranji final following a 67-year wait.

“We just have to be stubborn,” he added.

The 41-year-old captain’s words reflected not just the match but a long career built over many seasons, during which he helped change a side long seen as underdogs.

Dogra began his domestic career with the Himachal Pradesh cricket team in 2001. He later played for the Pondicherry cricket team from the 2018-19 season to 2023-24 before joining Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the 2024-25 season.

Since his debut in 2001, he has scored 10,517 runs in 152 first-class matches at an average above 48, including 34 centuries and 36 half-centuries, with a highest score of 253.

A former India A batter, he also played unofficial Tests against the West Indies A in 2013. Over the years, he has remained among domestic cricket’s consistent run-scorers.

At Jammu and Kashmir, he joined a dressing room looking for belief, and this season that belief led to a place in the final.

“We have to keep going. So, God has written that we will play in the final,” he said after the team reached the title clash, ending a wait that goes back to their debut in 1959-60.

During the semifinal, Dogra also became only the second batter after Wasim Jaffer to cross 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs.

“Kabhi socha nahin tha (never thought I will get to this milestone). Khelna pasand hai, baaki uparwala ne 10,000 run bana diya (I just love playing and by the grace of God I could make 10,000), so I’m really very happy,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He called the milestone special but said the team’s goal remained more important. He also thanked teammates and support staff for backing him late in his career.

“Thank you very much for that. It felt good. I never thought I would do this. But I love this game. I just like to play.

“Definitely, I am very happy and I am also very happy that I got to play with such amazing guys. The coaching staff. The management. They are supporting me in everything.

“So, I think we have been talking about it from the first day, so, hopefully we will do it.”

Jammu and Kashmir had given away a 26-run first-innings lead after being bowled out for 302, but Dogra said the team stayed calm.

“There was still two-and-a-half-days game was left so the lead of 26 runs doesn’t matter that much.

“Because it was a five-day game. So, we were still positive. That we will chase as many runs as possible. But we were not expecting that Bengal will fold so quickly.”

Asked whether the result had sunk in, he said: “Yes, it has sunk in, we were in a good position. So, yes, definitely.”