There is a rare joy in watching an underdog come out triumphs. The odds are against you, reputation is not a worry, yet when you emerge on the winning side at the end of it; it tastes sweet. Ask Sunil Joshi - former India spinner and now the coach of Jammu and Kashmir about a triumph of the underdog and he replies with an ‘I guess we’ve proved we are no underdogs already’ reliving his side’s historic win against 40-time Ranji Trophy champions - Mumbai. It’s been more than 24 hours since that victory at the Wankhede stadium, yet the memories are fresh like it just happened yesterday. A few words of inspiration were enough for a spirited J&K side to turn the odds in their favour. “The message to the dressing room was clear. I just said, ‘this can’t get any bigger boys; beating Mumbai in Mumbai in a Ranji Trophy fixture will be huge’, recalls Joshi. “I could see that eagerness in the side to do well when they walked out on the field against Mumbai. They were confident throughout the duration of the Test and the result is there to be seen. We told ourselves that we have the capability to defeat the best side in the competition. We did that against Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy earlier and this would be no different.” The moment the side won their Mumbai fixture, there was no fist pumping, no over the top celebrations, a warm hug was followed by a gentle smile on the field and in the dressing room. History was created but it was as if it was just another day on the field for J&K. “This win is huge you know,” Joshi explains. “It will only instill more belief in the side that they can defeat the best in the business. This win is right up there in our books and we are very proud of it. Defeating 40-time champions in their own backyard is surreal and will serve as a catalyst for performances in the years to come.” So when did this team realise they were capable of causing upsets and make a name for themselves in the big league? “When we defeated Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy,” Joshi replies. That Delhi side resembled half an Indian national side and some big names in the ranks. We developed a belief in ourselves that we were not mere pushovers. That win brought about a spark in the side and charged us up for the rest of the tournament and season ahead.” Joshi also credited Captain Parvez Rasool for holding the team together during tough times and hoped for the all-rounder’s success. “Rasool is an extremely talented cricketer. We have wanted an off-spinner who can bat well and I think Rasool is an answer to that. His records are there to be seen which also won him the Lala Amarnath Award for the best all-rounder in the last year’s Ranji Trophy. He is a thinking cricketer with a stable head on his shoulders. He is someone who is tailor-made for the longer format and has the game to adjust for shorter formats. He is a useful cricketer and I only hope that he continues performing well for our side and yields results in the future.” Mumbai’s loss to J&K has stirred a few former cricketers who have questioned the caliber and hunger of Mumbai cricketers off late that was synonymous to them in the past. Joshi believed that lesser known teams over the years have proved a point and the league is no longer about just the big teams and big names. “We have to realise that teams are getting better with each passing season. The Ranji Trophy is no longer just about the big teams. This league is springing up surprises each season and the lesser known teams have also strived hard to make a name for themselves. Teams like Kerala and Goa are putting up far better performances than they have in the previous seasons. Maybe the big teams have remained where they are and not improved over the years which has given other teams a chance to showcase their prowess. There is a constant effort to improve within each team and that is why we see smaller teams also coming to the fore.” Behind the cheers and joys, the success and frailties lies another short story; that of Joshi himself. There is a fondness with which he talks about cricket in the valley, its players, the ambition to watch Jammu and Kashmir at the pinnacle and a gentle tone in his voice that signifies an eagerness to succeed as a unit. “I have been watching this side for the last couple of seasons. I noticed that this bunch is capable and destined for bigger and better things. I did get a few offers from other sides as well but I wanted to do something for this side and there was a vigour in me to take it up as a challenge,” Joshi gives a recap. Joshi still remembers the moment he walked in as coach of the J&K side. “The reception that I got from the team was phenomenal. Never did I feel that this was a new setup and I had to fit into it. The thing is I was still playing cricket till the last couple of years. These players know me and respect me and that is the feeling I got when I walked into the side as a coach. Also the crucial factor that helped us to bond better was the age difference. There is not much of an age gap between me and the side which helped us in bonding and understanding things better. I have not been out of the game for long and I roll my arm over at the nets. I am thoroughly enjoying my stint with this side and I am only working towards the betterment of this side,” signed off Joshi.