Hubballi, Feb 28 (NationPress) Shubham Pundir, a talented batter from Jammu & Kashmir, described his team’s first Ranji Trophy victory as a “fairytale” moment. His pivotal performance in the historic title-winning campaign earned him the Player of the Match accolade.

Pundir laid the groundwork for J&K’s dominance in the final with a stunning century in the first innings, helping the team amass an impressive total of 584 runs. This monumental score ultimately secured them the title based on a substantial first-innings lead against Karnataka.

Reflecting on their achievement, Pundir stated, “It still feels surreal. It feels like a fairytale. But I think for our region, for all the players, and for the management, this is a major accomplishment. Everyone has worked tirelessly for years, so I believe this is a significant success.”

Heading into the final, Jammu & Kashmir understood the critical need to set a commanding score after choosing to bat first. Pundir played with maturity and composure, allowing the team to take early control of the match. His century, complemented by key performances from Yawer Hassan and Abdul Samad, enabled J&K to construct a total that was ultimately beyond Karnataka's reach.

Discussing his approach during that crucial innings, Pundir highlighted the necessity of patience and adapting to the match conditions. “The goal was to bat as long as possible. Our ideal target was between 500-600 runs, but more importantly, we focused on batting for as long as we could. We aimed to build a lengthy innings. My strategy was to tackle the new ball cautiously—playing straight and safely at the start—and then to attack the spinners,” he explained.

“That’s what the pitch required. There was some movement with the new ball, so we aimed to navigate that phase. Once past that, the spinners didn’t get much help. I truly enjoy batting with both Yawer and Samad. With Yawer, there’s always a bit of fun, while Samad takes the pressure off with his aggressive style. I cherished batting alongside both of them,” Pundir remarked.

His innings were crucial in shaping the match dynamics, providing Jammu & Kashmir’s bowlers with a comfortable lead. The bowling attack, spearheaded by Auqib Nabi Dar’s five-wicket haul, ensured Karnataka fell significantly short of the first-innings total, solidifying their decisive lead and ultimately clinching the title.

Even after his personal milestone and match-winning contribution, Pundir maintained his focus on ongoing improvement and future development.

“I believe I need to enhance my play outside off-stump and some elements of my front-foot game. You’ll certainly see growth next year,” he asserted.