Jammu: The record holder former captains of Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team have showered praises for the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) batsman Shubham Khajuria, who became the first cricketer in more than two decades to score double century against Maharashtra in the ongoing Ranji Trophy match in Srinagar.
Shubham (29), who is also the vice-captain of the JKCA has become the first batter to score a double-century in 22 years with the help of 24 fours and four sixes in 312 balls for Jammu and Kashmir in the Ranji Trophy.
Appreciating Shubham Khajuria, former J&K cricketer, Ashwani Gupta, who captained the J&K team in 1995 and 2002 said, “It is a happy moment especially when he broke my record of 1995 of 210 not out against Himachal Pradesh in Una.”
He has made the entire cricket fraternity proud, said Gupta adding, “It is one of the best innings from Shubham’s bat, and that too against a tough team like Maharashtra.”
“Every season he scores runs and is always amazing with his bat. We wish that he plays for team India, ” said Gupta.
In 2002 as well, Ashwani Gupta scored an unbeaten 203 against Bihar in Jamshedpur.
Another former J&K captain, Kaval Jeet Singh popularly known as Bunny told UNI, “We are very happy that after so many years, someone from J&K has scored 200.”
Kaval Jeet Singh, who scored 206 against Services in Delhi in 2001, said, “Such innings are inspirational and motivational. It is good that he has scored this many runs in the season’s first match and it shows that the team is well prepared and ready to take on the rest of the challenges.”
Stating that such innings take the yesteryear cricketers into the flashback, he said, “Good practice sessions and competitive games before the start of domestic tournaments along with consistency are key that brings Shubham-like talent into the form.”
Moreover, Bunny said that JKCA also has capable support staff and the association is very visionary to take J&K cricket to the next level.”
