Jammu & Kashmir’s triumphant Ranji Trophy victory marks the culmination of a journey that began 67 years ago, when the team first appeared in India’s premier domestic cricket tournament in the 1959–60 season.
Among the pioneering squad of 1959 was Durga Prasad Sharma, fondly known as “DP”, a student of Amar Singh College, Srinagar. Though the team could not leave a significant mark in its debut season, DP’s elegant batting caught the attention of several cricket stalwarts of the era.
So impressed was the legendary “Vizzy” — Pusapati Vijaya Ananda Gajapathi Raju (28 December 1905 – 2 December 1965), better known as the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram or Vizzy)— that he personally wrote to DP’s father, B.P. Sharma, who was then Director of All India Radio, praising the young cricketer’s technique and encouraging him to further hone his skills. Vizzy, a former President of the BCCI from 1954 to 1957, was known for his keen eye for talent, making his appreciation a matter of great pride for the budding cricketer.
Beyond the cricket field, DP Sharma was equally accomplished. As an NCC cadet officer at Amar Singh College, he had the rare honour of leading India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, during an NCC Parade in New Delhi. His contributions were also recognised by the then Prime Ministers of J&K, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq.
Carrying forward his commitment to public service, DP later joined the Jammu & Kashmir Police and rose through the ranks to become a Senior Superintendent of Police. He received the President’s Police Medal from the then Governor of J&K, BK Nehru.
From the early promise shown by pioneers like DP Sharma in 1959 to the historic Ranji Trophy title decades later, J&K’s cricketing journey reflects resilience, perseverance and an enduring passion for the game.