Fast bowler Brijesh Sharma has joined the Jammu and Kashmir cricket squad ahead of the 2026/27 domestic season, returning to represent his home state after a breakthrough IPL 2026 campaign with Rajasthan Royals. The pacer, who hails from Mada town in Udhampur district, is already training with the side at a preparation camp.

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'Brijesh Sharma has linked up with the Jammu and Kashmir team for the Ranji Trophy. He's with the team for the preparation camp and has been progressing well,' a well-placed source in the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) said on Thursday.

Brijesh has been named in J&K's squad for practice matches against Uttarakhand scheduled from 10 to 17 August at the SK Stadium in Srinagar. Both teams are set to report to the city on 8 August.

A Rapid Rise Through the Ranks

Brijesh's cricketing journey has been unconventional. He represented J&K age-group teams before relocating to Delhi to train under coach Deepak Punia, a former Ranji Trophy pacer. His big break came in the 2025 Bengal Pro T20 League, where he claimed 11 wickets in seven games for Smashers Malda — a performance that caught the eye of IPL franchises.

Although Brijesh had registered as a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) player for the IPL 2026 auction, he is now set to turn out for Jammu and Kashmir, the reigning Ranji Trophy holders. Notably, Rajasthan Royals picked him up at a base price of ₹30 lakh despite his having no prior senior domestic cricket experience.

In his debut IPL season, Brijesh delivered handsomely — picking up 14 wickets in 13 matches for Rajasthan Royals, cementing his reputation as a promising red-ball prospect.

Coaching Staff in Transition

Off the field, Jammu and Kashmir are navigating changes to their support structure. With head coach Ajay Sharma continuing in his role, the side requires replacements for bowling coach P Krishnakumar and fielding coach Dishant Yagnik, both of whom have moved to coaching positions at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

Former Delhi wicketkeeper-batter Punit Bisht, who served as J&K U23 men's head coach, is reportedly being considered for promotion to the senior team's coaching staff. The search for a replacement for Krishnakumar — credited with a key role in J&K's red-ball resurgence and the rise of pacer Auqib Nabi — is reportedly still ongoing, according to sources.

What to Watch

With Brijesh's IPL pedigree now added to a squad that already holds the Ranji Trophy, Jammu and Kashmir head into the 2026/27 domestic season as one of the more closely watched sides in Indian cricket. How quickly the coaching staff transition is resolved will be critical to maintaining the momentum built in recent seasons.