Can J&K’s Ranji triumph heal old wounds?

Panacea on the Pitch? Cricket has the potential to tackle the sense of alienation that Kashmiris feel and bind them and other Indians closer together Jammu and Kashmir have become India’s cricketing champs by thrashing favourites Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy finals. This is a fantastic, heart-warming Cinderella tale in a small state long viewed as a no-hoper in cricket. Experts say nobody watches Ranji Trophy cricket because it is not exciting and lacks top stars. But I followed the Ranji semi-final and the final avidly and, by the end, was cheering myself hoarse for J&K. There must have been…