Hubballi named Ranji final venue amid ongoing preparations at Chinnaswamy
Devdutt Padikkal (Source: IG/@devpadikkal19)
Published - 20 Feb 2026, 01:39 PM• Read time - 2 mins
Fans in Bengaluru will have to continue to wait for the return of top-class cricket to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has allotted the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season final to Hubballi.
Having secured all the requisite security clearances from the state government, the M Chinnaswamy continues to adopt safety measures amid the ongoing infrastructural changes.
"Several spectator gates and access points are currently being dismantled and widened, along with other critical improvement works," a KSCA spokesperson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "In view of these ongoing developments, it would not have been feasible to ensure the high-quality match-viewing experience and spectator convenience a marquee fixture such as a Ranji final deserves."
Meanwhile, the final showdown of the 2025-26 Ranji season will see the eight-time winners Karnataka face first-time entrants Jammu & Kashmir. Karnataka cemented their final berth by securing a massive 503-run first innings lead in the first semifinal against Uttarakhand at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This will be Karnataka's 15th Ranji Trophy final appearance.
On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir came from behind to beat Bengal in the second semifinal, played in Kalyani. After a 26-run deficit in the first innings, Jammu and Kashmir bowled Bengal out for just 99 in the second innings and successfully chased down 126 in the fourth innings to win by six wickets.
Fast-bowling allrounder Auqib Nabi was adjudged the Player of the Match for claiming figures of 9/123 and scoring a crucial 42 off 54 balls in the first innings.
However, they have an underwhelming head-to-head record against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. Jammu and Kashmir have lost each of their four meetings against Karnataka and therefore have a task cut out.
The final will be played at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, with the match set to begin at 8 AM (IST) on February 24.
