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JAMMU: The ground at the Government Gandhi Memorial Science College here wore a carnival look on the eve Jammu & Kashmir's Ranji Trophy quarter-final encounter on Wednesday.

Buntings and canopies were being erected even as the gates got a fresh coat of paint. Amidst all the festivity, it was hard to miss the security personal around. Understandably, Karnataka skipper Karun remarked: "Too close for comfort." However, for the locals here, it is a part of life.

With the political turmoil cutting the valley off from the rest of the country in August last year, cricket and cricketers too were among the sufferers. The match, the first knockout game here, is like soothing balm from the harsh grind.

The whole situation is not lost on the home team. They want to go all out to make the efforts of the people here count. The only way they can do it is by playing a fearless brand of cricket, a challenge they have embraced with zeal.

"After 2014, this is the first time we have reached the quarterfinals and it is a proud moment for all of us. Our progress is the result of all the hard work put in by various stakeholders of the game in the state." pointed out Jammu and Kashmir skipper Parvez Rasool.

"This match is historic for us because we are playing a quarterfinal match at home for the first time," added the 31-year-old all-rounder, who missed the first four games of the season due to injury and tracked the team's performance while undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

Talking about the impact of the match being held here, the captain said: "It is a big deal for people here when the stars they watch on television come and play in front of them. I'm sure it will have a huge impact and go a long way in helping Jammu cricket grow."

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Ranji Trophy: A soothing balm at testing times in Jammu & Kashmir - Times of India