In Kashmir, sports and youth don’t run parallel, neither does the Indian Army in this regard. When we talk about sports in Jammu and Kashmir, cricket is something that comes to the mind of every Kashmiri. No doubt other games like volleyball, football, kabaddi and more are also played here, but cricket here enjoys a unique stature. Being an ardent fan of cricket, I have seen the rise and fall of international cricket teams very closely, be it Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, New Zealand, India, England, Australia, West Indies or any other team for that matter. How can I miss the history of my Jammu and Kashmir’s own team? Over the past few years, Jammu and Kashmir cricket has shown a significant rise, and the recently concluded Ranji Trophy, where team J&K won its maiden Ranji title, helped J&K cricket to attract major headlines regionally, nationally and internationally. Discussions on and off air were common that a team which once would have an early exit from the tournament now dominated the season and eventually emerged victorious. The sudden transformation and rise of cricket in the region are often attributed to administrative reforms like meritocracy, efficiency, transparency and corruption-free functioning, and to be brutally honest, it is so true. But another major factor that has tremendously contributed to J&K’s cricket over the decades, directly or indirectly, has always remained behind the scenes, underappreciated, largely unseen off the cameras and news headlines, and often stays out of the credit: that is the guardians of Indian soil, the Indian Army. The Indian Army has deeply contributed to Kashmir, be it through welfare initiatives, free national tours, medical services, free education under Sadbhavana, and cricket hasn’t lagged behind. Let us examine how involved the Indian Army has been in promoting cricket and in J&K’s rise in cricket.

The foremost and basic promotion has been through supporting and organising local cricket tournaments. Tournaments that would often be less competitive, had fewer teams, less reach, limited crowd and funding, with the involvement of the Army, all these issues became history, more teams were added, tournaments became more competitive, gained more visibility, better infrastructure and more funding. This encouraged youth to take on cricket, and participation of youth increased. I myself have seen many cricket and sports tournaments in general being organised by the Indian Army. Once I passed by a village ground somewhere, and some army personnel and army vehicles on the ground caught my attention, I felt surprised at the presence of the Army on a cricket ground, and upon enquiring, I found out that the Army was organising this tournament mainly to keep youth engaged in constructive activities, provide them a launching platform and keep them away from drugs and negativity. I was not surprised hearing this, as I knew what the Army does here for its people, further he added that amenities were also top class like refreshments, audio system, prize money and awards. Army involvement in sports has also played a key role in J&K’s rise in cricket, kids who once used to play with a homemade or tennis bat are now hitting boundaries with a premium bat, bowlers who once used to bowl with 20–50 rupees tennis balls are now bowling at speeds of 140 kmph with a leather ball and uprooting stumps or may get hit for boundaries as well, youth who once played on muddy or improper pitches are now playing on first-class turf, players to whom cricket kits were foreign are now accustomed to those kits, a talented player who once was known to none now gets recognition through social media, news and interviews. Access to better facilities has improved their skills and confidence, and in region long been marred by Pakistani terror, such developments have made a huge difference. Through initiatives like Sadbhavana, the Army has helped build and maintain cricket grounds in remote and sensitive areas, these grounds are not just pieces of land, they are platforms where dreams take shape. But Talent alone is not enough; it needs direction an recognition, the Indian Army has organised coaching camps, tournaments and training programs where experienced coaches guide and select young cricketers, these programs focus on discipline, fitness and technique, qualities essential for professional cricket. Army personnel often act as mentors, encouraging youth to stay focused and work hard, this guidance is especially important in areas like Kashmir affected by terror and isolation, where young minds can easily lose direction, cricket becomes not just a sport but a positive outlet for energy and ambition. Another major challenge for J&K players was the lack of exposure, competing against strong teams from other parts of India is crucial for growth, the Army has played a key role in organising inter-district and inter-state tournaments, giving local players a chance to test their skills, these competitions have helped players gain confidence and understand the demands of higher-level cricket, slowly selectors began noticing the talent emerging from the region. Jammu and Kashmir has faced difficult times over the years, and in such an environment, engaging youth in positive activities is extremely important, sports, especially cricket, has proven to be a powerful tool in this regard, the Indian Army’s sports promotion efforts have helped channel the energy of young people into something constructive, instead of falling into negativity, they have chosen the path of growth through sports. The efforts of the Army do yield results in the form of Parvez Rasool, Umran Malik, Abdul Samad and Aaqib Nabi, and Inshallah many more will come whose success is directly or indirectly linked to the Army
In conclusion, the army is not only the protector of this nation, especially Kashmir, but also a source of hope, an inspiration, a platform, and a silent force in shaping the success of Kashmiris. I clearly remember a conversation in a remote area of Qaziabad, where locals were discussing the brands of cricket kits they had. Some said SS, some said SG, and others mentioned different names. Later, I came to know that it was the army distributing these kits among local teams to promote cricket. Out of curiosity, I checked one of the kits and found that it contained two premium bats, helmets, and other top-class equipment. There are many such examples, not only in sports but in other areas as well, where the army continues to act as a helping hand. Hence, I rest my case here.

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