Jammu and Kashmir clinch maiden Ranji Trophy title after outplaying Karnataka in 2025-26 final

Jammu and Kashmir created history by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title after securing a first-innings lead against Karnataka in the 2025-26 final clash. The match ended in a draw after the Paras Dogra-led team declared their innings at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground in Hubli on Saturday, February 28.

The Ranji Trophy final in Karnataka swung Jammu and Kashmir’s way on the morning of Day 4. Auqib Nabi’s five-wicket haul dismantled Karnataka and handed J&K a commanding 291-run first-innings lead. The eight-time champions failed to win even a single session throughout the entire five-day final.

Jammu and Kashmir Win Ranji Trophy After Draw Against Karnataka

Jammu and Kashmir won the Ranji Trophy for the first time after drawing the final against Karnataka and clinching the title through a first-innings lead. The side, led by Paras Dogra, lifted the championship in its maiden final appearance, becoming the ninth team in the tournament’s history to achieve the feat.

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The triumph comes after a 67-year wait for J&K in India’s premier red-ball competition. Facing eight-time champions Karnataka on their home ground was a major challenge, but J&K controlled the game from start to finish.

They were disciplined with both bat and ball and stuck to a clear plan throughout the contest. Players were seen exchanging hugs as the state’s chief minister applauded from the stands. The title was also a special moment for Paras Dogra, who finally became a Ranji champion after 25 seasons.

Jammu and Kashmir Dominate Ranji Trophy Final With Bat and Ball

Jammu & Kashmir took full control of the Ranji Trophy final by scoring a massive 584 in the first innings. Karnataka fielded for almost seven sessions, and with such a big total on the board, J&K kept the pressure on throughout the contest.

Shubham Pundir scored 121, while Paras Dogra (70), Yawer Hassan (88), Abdul Samad (61), Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70) and Sahil Lotra (72) chipped in with half-centuries.

Auqib Nabi then made the biggest impact with the ball on a flat pitch. He dismissed KL Rahul for 13 and followed it up by removing Karun Nair and Smaran Ravichandran on consecutive deliveries. Karnataka were struggling at 57/4 as the game swung in J&K’s favour.

Mayank Agarwal tried to bring Karnataka back with a knock of 160, which helped them cross 280 runs. However, Nabi completed his seventh five-wicket haul of the season and finished with 60 wickets overall, becoming only the third pacer in Ranji history to take 60 or more wickets in a single season.

Jammu and Kashmir Bat Karnataka Out of the Game to Seal Historic Ranji Title

After taking a 291-run first-innings lead, Jammu & Kashmir never allowed Karnataka back into the game. Prasidh Krishna and Vijaykumar Vyshak dismissed Yawer Hassan for 1 and Shubham Pundir for 4 before lunch.

Qamran Iqbal, Abdul Samad and Sahil Lotra steadied the innings. On the final day, Hassan and Lotra both scored centuries. Karnataka also used part-time bowlers, with KL Rahul, Karun Nair and Mayank Agarwal rolling their arms.

After J&K declared their second innings at 341/4, officials confirmed the result and celebrations broke out in the J&K camp. J&K lost only one match, the opener against Mumbai, before beating Madhya Pradesh in the quarter-final and Bengal in the semi-final.

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