Sixty-seven years of waiting ended on February 24, 2026, at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground. Jammu & Kashmir, playing their first-ever Ranji final, beat eight-time champions Karnataka to lift the trophy for the very first time.
They came in as underdogs, lost to Mumbai in their opening game, and still found a way to win it all. Auqib Nabi took 60 wickets across the season.
Shubham Pundir scored a hundred in the final. Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra scored match-winning centuries in the second innings. This was not just a win. It was history.
Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 Final Match Details
Here is a quick look at the key details from the final before we dive into the highlights, one by one.
Every number in this table tells a part of the story that unfolded at Hubli.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Karnataka vs Jammu & Kashmir, Final, Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 |
| Venue | KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, Hubli, India |
| Toss | Jammu & Kashmir won the toss and opted to bat |
| Karnataka First Innings | 293 |
| J&K First Innings | 584 |
| J&K Second Innings | 342/4 (declared) |
| Result | Match Drawn, J&K won by first-innings lead |
| Player of the Match | Shubham Pundir |
| Player of the Series | Auqib Nabi Dar |
This final had grit, drama, and a performance from J&K that domestic cricket fans will talk about for decades.
First Innings Highlights: J&K Build a Mountain
Jammu & Kashmir came out with full intent after winning the toss. Yawer Hassan set the tone with a composed 88 off 150 balls, hitting 13 fours and looking assured at the crease from the very first over.
He and Shubham Pundir built a 100-run stand that gave J&K a solid platform. Prasidh Krishna broke the stand when he had Hassan caught at slip by KL Rahul, but by then the damage was done.
Shubham Pundir then took charge in the most memorable way possible. He brought up a century in a Ranji final, removed his helmet, and raised his arms toward the dressing room.
His 121 off 247 balls included 12 fours and 2 sixes. He played stunning on-drives, used his feet well against the spinners, and batted with a maturity that belied his age.
Here is a look at J&K’s standout performers in the first innings.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Top Scorer | Shubham Pundir | 121 runs (247 balls, 12×4, 2×6) |
| Best Supporting Knock | Yawer Hassan | 88 runs (150 balls, 13×4) |
| Most Valuable Cameo | Abdul Samad | 61 runs (104 balls, 6×4, 1×6) |
Kanhaiya Wadhawan added 70 off 109 balls, and Abdul Samad chipped in with 61 to help J&K post 584 in total. Six of their top seven batters scored fifty-plus. Karnataka were bowled out for 293 in reply, giving J&K a first-innings lead of 291 runs.
Karnataka’s First Innings: Nabi Leads the Charge
Karnataka came out to bat knowing they were up against it. J&K’s pace battery, led by Auqib Nabi, bowled with sharp lines and consistent pressure throughout Karnataka’s innings.
Nabi’s ability to hit the right areas, ball after ball, made life extremely difficult for the Karnataka batters from the very start of their innings.
Auqib Nabi claimed his seventh five-wicket haul of the season as Karnataka crumbled to 293 all out. The 291-run first-innings deficit put Karnataka in a position from which there was almost no way back.
To win, they needed to bowl J&K out cheaply in the second innings and then chase a target. That plan never came close to working.
Here is how Karnataka’s innings fell apart against J&K’s bowling.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Best Bowler (J&K) | Auqib Nabi Dar | 5 wickets |
| Karnataka Total | All Out | 293 |
| First-Innings Lead | J&K | 291 runs |
The Karnataka dressing room knew at the end of their first innings that J&K had one hand on the trophy. The only way back was a bowling masterclass in J&K’s second innings. It never arrived.
Second Innings Highlights: J&K Shut the Door
Karnataka had J&K under slight pressure early in the second innings, reducing them to 11 for 2. But Qamran Iqbal came in and changed everything.
He saw off the new ball, built back-to-back fifty partnerships with Dogra and Samad, and then joined hands with Sahil Lotra to take the game completely out of Karnataka’s reach.
Both Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra scored centuries in the second innings. Qamran made 160 off 311 balls, ls and Lotra made 101 off 226 balls.
Both came into the side due to injuries to other players, and both made their opportunities count in the biggest possible way.
Paras Dogra eventually declared with J&K at 342 for 4, and the teams shook hands to confirm J&K as Ranji Trophy champions.
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Here is how J&K sealed the match in their second innings.
| Category | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Top Scorer | Qamran Iqbal | 160 runs (311 balls) |
| Second Century | Sahil Lotra | 101 runs (226 balls) |
| Declaration | J&K Second Innings | 342/4 |
With a combined lead of over 600 runs and Karnataka showing no realistic path to a win, Paras Dogra declared during the second session of Day 5. The entire J&K squad stormed onto the field in celebration. History had been made.
