Jammu & Kashmir created history by winning their first-ever Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season. The final against Karnataka ended in a draw, but J&K were declared champions after taking a huge first-innings lead.
This is a landmark achievement for the team, which has been part of the Ranji Trophy since the 1959-60 season. The Paras Dogra-led side delivered an outstanding all-round performance to lift their maiden title.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Final: Match Result
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| Final | Jammu & Kashmir vs Karnataka |
| Venue | Hubballi |
| Result | Match Drawn |
| Winner | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Winning Basis | First-innings lead (291 runs) |
J&K dominated the final from the beginning and stayed ahead throughout the match.
First Innings: Massive Total Sets the Tone
Jammu & Kashmir built a strong foundation with an excellent batting performance.
| J&K First Innings | Runs |
|---|---|
| Shubham Pundir | 121 |
| Yawer Hassan | 88 |
| Paras Dogra | 70 |
| Abdul Samad | 61 |
| Kanhaiya Wadhawan | 70 |
| Sahil Lotra | 72 |
| Total | 584 all out |
This big total put Karnataka under heavy pressure early in the match.
Karnataka Reply: Nabi’s Five-Wicket Spell
Karnataka struggled against disciplined bowling from J&K.
| Karnataka First Innings | Performance |
|---|---|
| Mayank Agarwal | 160 |
| Team Total | 293 |
| Auqib Nabi (J&K) | 5/54 |
Nabi’s brilliant spell broke Karnataka’s batting and helped J&K secure a huge first-innings lead.
Second Innings: Centuries Seal Control
J&K continued their dominance in the second innings.
| J&K Second Innings | Runs |
|---|---|
| Qamran Iqbal | 160* |
| Sahil Lotra | 101* |
| Team Total | 342/4 declared |
After building an overall lead of more than 500 runs, the match was drawn, confirming J&K as champions on first-innings advantage.
Key Performers of the Final
- Shubham Pundir – Century in the first innings (Player of the Match)
- Qamran Iqbal – Unbeaten 160 in the second innings
- Sahil Lotra – 72 & 101*
- Auqib Nabi – 5 wickets in the final
Nabi also finished the season as the Player of the Series with 60 wickets, the highest in the tournament.
Season Highlights
| Tournament Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Season | 2025-26 (91st edition) |
| Teams | 38 |
| Champions | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Runner-up | Karnataka |
| Player of the Series | Auqib Nabi |
| Most Wickets | 60 (Auqib Nabi) |
This victory marks a major rise for Jammu & Kashmir, who were rarely considered strong contenders in the past but have improved steadily in recent years.
Winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time is a proud moment for Jammu & Kashmir cricket. The team showed strong teamwork, leadership, and consistency throughout the season. This success is expected to boost cricket development in the region and could open doors for several players to earn national recognition.
The 2025-26 season will always be remembered as the year when Jammu & Kashmir made history in Indian domestic cricket.
