Mr Cricket UAE

Jammu & Kashmir overcome Karnataka to clinch maiden Ranji Trophy title in Hubli

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Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir (Source: Auqib_nabi on IG)

Mr Cricket UAE Staff

Mr Cricket UAE Staff

Published - 28 Feb 2026, 02:00 PM Read time - 2 mins

Jammu & Kashmir have registered history at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground in Hubli as they clinched their maiden Ranji Trophy title by surpassing Karnataka based on a first innings lead of 291 runs. Top order batter Shubham Pundir was awarded the Player of the Match (POTM) for his century (121 off 247) as he laid the foundation of J&K's massive first innings score of 584.

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Pundir stitched a 139-run stand for the second wicket alongside Yawer Hassan and denied Karnataka the opportunity to make early inroads. Hassan scored 88 off 150 balls with the help of 13 boundaries and was unfortunate to miss out on a hundred. Pundir then scored another remarkable 124-run stand with Abdul Samad (61 off 104 balls) and took the game away from Karnataka's grasp.

Paras Dogra played a captain's knock (70 off 166) and was also involved in a heated exchange during the course of his knock. Dogra headbutted Karnataka's substitute fielder K.V. Aneesh after a bit of argy-bargy before Mayank Agarwal stepped in and resolved the matter.

Sahil Lotra (72 off 138) and wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70 off 109) also registered half-centuries to help their team post a gigantic total, and it proved to be enough for them in the end.

Barring right-arm speedster Prasidh Krishna (5/98) in 34.1 overs, none of the other Karnataka bowlers looked probing, and it hurt them.

In reply, Karnataka could only muster 293 in 93.3 overs, primarily due to a herculean effort by former captain Mayank Agarwal. Mayank scored 160 off 266 balls, batted almost right through the innings, and was the eighth wicket to fall.

Jammu and Kashmir's hero of the event and the Player of the Tournament, Auqib Nabi, was by far the most impressive bowler. He snared five wickets, accounting for KL Rahul, Mayank, R Smaran, Karun Nair, and Shikhar Shetty.

Twin hundreds by Qamaran Iqbal (160*) and Sahil (101*) were the highlights of J&K's second innings as both players registered an unbeaten 197-run stand for the fifth wicket. J&K declared at 342 at the end and were by far the better side throughout the course of the contest, denying them their ninth title.

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