J&K vs Mumbai (Source: @waseem_andrabi/X.com)
Mumbai defeated Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in a thriller in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025 Group D game at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. Despite all the excitement and treat of this game, there was more buzz outside the stadium than inside it.
New BCCI President in attendance in Srinagar
The game, which saw major ups and downs, twists and turns over four days at the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, ended with Mumbai winning by just 35 runs in a classic thriller. Batting first, Mumbai, who scored 386, saw Jammu and Kashmir putting up a decent fight by scoring 325 in the first innings.
However, the game turned in the second innings as Mumbai were rocked for 181, where Auqib Nabi picked a five-wicket haul, while J&K, chasing 243 for victory, reached only as far as 207, as they were bowled out, falling 35 runs short of the target, where left-arm spinner Shams Mulani picked a seven-wicket haul.
In attendance during all four days of this high-profile game was the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) newly elected president, Mithun Manhas.
The Jammu-born former cricketer and current president is keen to bring cricket to the left-out state of J&K, and it's no secret that everyone tries to bring more cricket to their state, as has been the case previously as well.
Also, some high-profile names like Sarfaraz Khan, Ajinkya Rahane, Ayush Mhatare, Musheer Khan, alongside Shardul Thakur and Tushar Deshpande, were in the touring Mumbai camp. At the same time, J&K already had the likes of Abdul Samad, Yudhvir Singh, Auqib Nabi while Umran Malik was in the dressing room after being benched for this game for some reason still unknown.
However, for all the wrong reasons, the attention shifted to a notice reading, "No person is allowed to take videos or go live," which was pasted outside the stadium.
Phones taken away as JKCA's new mandate takes place
If you ever happen to be at Jammu airport, the chances are you might have noticed an unusual guideline that prohibits taking a picture or a video inside or outside the airport. If you still bother to try, the authorities, who are already keeping a strict eye on you, would walk over and ask you to delete the video or picture.
This is mainly due to the fact that this particular airport is a public and military airport where the Indian Air Force operates, and hence, strict measures have been taken. However, some 245 km away is the Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar, where a similar incident occurred.
Several reports mentioned that phones were snatched inside the venue, as the fans were not allowed to record a video, click a photograph, forget going live on Instagram or any other social media platform.
This directive, although mentioned outside the stadium in bold letters that no one will be allowed to capture anything inside, directs something that has never been in place in any form of sport anywhere in the world, except for North Korea.
Covered exclusively by the editor-in-chief of Kashmir Sports Watch, Mohsin Kamal, who was barred from the stadium due to his alleged conflict with the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), brought some fans to speak about the matter who were present inside the stadium after the game on October 15th, day 1 of this Ranji encounter.
Talking about the issue, a few of the fans disclosed that their phones were taken away as they cited that some bouncers were extremely rude to them, where even a 12-year-old boy was scolded for recording a video inside the stadium.
If you don't know, this is the first-of-a-kind initiative taken by JKCA itself, although unheard of. There is no clear explanation for why, where, or when this rule has been in place. No one even knew why this rule was in effect, and that too inside a stadium where players are enthusiastically cheered by fans who flocked in numbers, on all four days of this game.
For those who don't know, JKCA allowed free entry to fans for this game, but strict rules have been in place.
It is no secret that JKCA have been in hot waters since the last decade, especially in 2012, when their bank accounts were frozen by the BCCI due to a massive embezzlement scam carried out by some officials back in the day.
However, the controversy dragged on for a decade, and a result came only a decade later. No funding for multiple years, and the bank accounts also put a heavy burden on JKCA, which somehow sustained and has now received its share of funds from the apex body.
Pahalgam attack might have made things sensitive
Nevertheless, things and controversies have failed to die down in the northern state of J&K, where matters have become even more sensitive in the last few months.
On 22nd April 2025, 26 civilians lost their lives due to a cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that shook the entire nation. Now, what could be presumed as a major issue is likely a catalyst for this new rule.
Following the terrorist attack, there have been some revelations by the Indian Ministry, which has taken some YouTubers and influencers into custody for recording several sensitive areas on camera before the attack, as it could be, who provided some inside information about the hotspots to some organisations.
In that regard, it is also likely that JKCA banned the filming or clicking of photos due to the sensitive nature of this venue, where Srinagar is at the epicentre, as information could be transferred through an espionage present at the venue.
With all the previous issues with security and safety, it might have been a decision taken after much due consideration, and hence, blaming the organisation or authority wouldn't be the right way. However, fans must have understood the notice presented to them, which was only for their safety.
The J&K will be up against Rajasthan at the same venue from the 25th of October, and expect similar guidelines during the course of the game in Srinagar.
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