In a remarkable feat, Shubham Khajuria etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Jammu & Kashmir batter in 22 years to score a double century in the Ranji Trophy. Khajuria achieved this milestone during J&K’s Round 1 match against Maharashtra in Srinagar on Saturday. His stunning knock of 255* came off 352 deliveries, marking the third double century ever scored by a J&K batter in Ranji Trophy history.
J&K’s First Double Ton in 22 Years
The last time a batter from Jammu & Kashmir achieved a double century in the Ranji Trophy was in 2002 when Ashwani Gupta did so against Bihar. Gupta is the only other player from the state to have reached this landmark, having scored double tons twice — once in 2002 and another in 1995. Now, Shubham Khajuria joins this elite list, continuing the legacy with his outstanding performance.
J&K’s Strong Start Against Maharashtra
Jammu & Kashmir had a challenging start to their innings, losing opener Abhinav Puri for a duck after facing just two deliveries. However, Khajuria’s steady and powerful batting performance anchored the innings and propelled J&K to an imposing total. By tea, the team had amassed 449 runs for the loss of five wickets in 136 overs.
Khajuria was well-supported by Shivansh Sharma, who contributed an unbeaten 72 off 252 deliveries. Other significant contributions came from Shubham Singh Pundir (37), Paras Dogra (30), and Abdul Samad (23), helping J&K post a formidable score against Maharashtra’s bowling attack.
Maharashtra’s Bowling Efforts
Despite Khajuria’s dominance, Maharashtra’s bowlers put up a decent fight. H.A. Walunj led the attack, claiming two wickets, while Arshin Kulkarni, Rajneesh Gurbani, and M.G. Choudhary each picked up a wicket. However, they struggled to contain Khajuria, who relentlessly built his innings to achieve the remarkable double century.
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As Jammu & Kashmir continue to bat strongly, the team is in a commanding position against Maharashtra, with hopes of securing a vital victory in their Ranji Trophy campaign. Khajuria’s historic knock not only boosts the team’s prospects but also solidifies his status as one of the finest batters in the state’s cricketing history.
J&K’s performance in this match sets the tone for the rest of their season, with fans eagerly awaiting more outstanding contributions from their top-order batters. Shubham Khajuria’s remarkable double century places Jammu & Kashmir in a dominant position as they continue their Ranji Trophy 2024-25 journey.
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