Umran Malik Dropped from J&K Ranji Trophy Squad for Phase 2 – VHT Snub Sparks Debate

After a long injury layoff, there was a lot of hope that Umran Malik, known for his lightning-fast 150 kmph deliveries, would finally be back to full fitness and ready to play an entire season of cricket, making his way back into the Indian team. His IPL franchise, KKR, seemed to believe in him too, retaining him for IPL 2026 at a hefty price of 75 lakh. 

These were all encouraging signs. However, a recent twist in domestic cricket has raised some concerns about his form and fitness. On Saturday, he was left out of J&K’s Ranji Trophy squad for the tournament's second phase, which could be a significant setback for the 26-year-old. 

To put things in perspective, he has only played one Ranji match this season against Rajasthan, where he didn’t manage to take a single wicket. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he played five matches and picked up six wickets. It’s also worth noting that this Ranji snub follows his exclusion from the J&K squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 

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The board hasn’t clarified whether this decision was based on his poor form or fitness issues, but the next time we’ll see him in action will be during IPL 2026. Meanwhile, J&K’s Ranji squad is as expected, with Parag Dogra set to lead the team, alongside reliable players like Abdul Samad and Auqib Nabi. 

J&K squad for Ranji Trophy phase 2

Shubham Khajuria, Auqib Nabi, Abdul Samad, Paras Dogra, Dikshant Kundal, Yawar Hassan, Shubham Pundir, Kanhaiya Wadhwan, Kawalpreet Singh, Abid Mustaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Sahil Lotra, Yudhvir Singh, Umar Nazir, Sunil Kumar.

Umran Malik’s journey this season has been a rollercoaster of hope and challenges. After bouncing back from injury and being retained by KKR for IPL 2026, expectations were sky-high for him to regain his fitness and form. However, being left out of J&K’s Ranji Trophy squad for the second phase raises some eyebrows about his current state.

With limited chances in domestic cricket and modest performances lately, the upcoming IPL season will be crucial for him to showcase his talent. Fans and selectors alike will be keeping a close eye on how he performs for KKR in 2026.