Karnataka vs Jammu and Kashmir | Ranji Trophy, 2025/26 | Final

Signing off from a season to remember - With that, Paras Dogra, the triumphant captain of Jammu and Kashmir, steps up to collect the coveted Ranji Trophy from Mithun Manhas, the BCCI President and Devajit Saikia the Secratary of BCCI, before joining his teammates to lift it together amid incredible, emotional scenes. And with that, we wrap up our coverage of a truly historic day! Thank you so much for being part of this unforgettable Ranji Trophy journey. The cricketing action doesn’t stop here, though. Make sure to switch tabs and catch the high-stakes World Cup clash between Pakistan and Sri Lanka starting at 1.30 pm GMT. It’s a crucial game for Pakistan to keep their semi-final dreams alive, so you definitely won’t want to miss it. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

Golden glory for Jammu and Kashmir - It’s now time for the jubilant Jammu and Kashmir players to collect their winners' medals from the Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Devajit Saikia, capping off a magnificent campaign. Skipper Paras Dogra then steps forward to receive the championship trophy amid loud cheers, before staying back for a quick chat, reflecting on a memorable triumph and the team's remarkable journey to the title. Dogra says that he has no words and it will take some time to sink in. Adds that he feels amazing to get a group of players like this and an association that supported them at every step. Mentions that they learned from the one-run defeat against Kerala last season in the quarter-final. Says that they talked about how each run is important and they just wanted to give their best regardless of the results. Paras shares that he thought the pitch was a bit dry and maybe it will turn, but after some discussion with the coach, they decided to bat first. Ends by saying that he does not want to think about what's next for him and just wants to enjoy this moment.

A valiant run ends with silver - It's time for the Karnataka players to step forward and collect their runners-up medals from the Honorary Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Devajit Saikia, after a hard-fought campaign. Moments later, skipper Devdutt Padikkal walks up to receive the runners-up trophy on behalf of his team, bringing the curtains down on a spirited run that just fell one step short of glory.

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT - Auqib Nabi receives the award for his steller 60 wickets, including a 5/54 in the final. He describes Jammu and Kashmir's 2025-26 Ranji Trophy victory as an unbelievable achievement that the squad is still struggling to fully process. After a historic season featuring 60 wickets and vital runs, he emphasizes that winning this specific trophy was the ultimate goal for which the team worked tirelessly. Nabi attributes his individual success to a simple tactical approach, sticking to the basics, attacking the stumps, and maintaining a high work rate regardless of the batter's reputation. He credits his family for the motivation to pursue professional sports, dedicating the title to them, while offering an inspiring message to young cricketers that consistent hard work can overcome a lack of high-end facilities.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Shubham Pundir wins the award for his impressive knock of 121 off 247 in the first innings. He says that it's a surreal feeling and it's like a fairy tale moment. Adds that this win is very crucial for their region and hopes that more cricketers get inspired. Mentions that they planned to score 500-600 runs in the first innings, but more than the runs, batting long was the important point. Pundir shares that his aim was to see through the new ball, play straight, and target the spinners. Says that he enjoys batting alongside Yawer Hassan and Abdul Samad, who take all the pressure off him and they have fun in the middle. Ends by saying that he will work on the outside-off balls and front foot and will ensure he comes back even better next season.

The captain of Karnataka - Devdutt Padikkal expresses immense pride in his team's effort, noting that reaching a final is a significant achievement despite the eventual result. He offers full credit to Jammu and Kashmir for their superior performance throughout the season and acknowledges that they simply played better cricket in the championship match, regardless of the toss. Padikkal specifically identifies Auqib Nabi as a decisive factor, praising the pacer's exceptional 60-wicket season and admitting that the Karnataka batters failed to negate his impact. Devdutt remains highly encouraged by the development of the younger players in the squad, viewing their early exposure to a major final as a foundational step for the team's future success.

Presentation Time...

One of the centurions - Qamran Iqbal expresses his delight at winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time, attributing the historic victory to a collective effort from the players, coaching staff, and administrators. Despite receiving a late call-up just the day before the match and arriving at the stadium only an hour before play began, he maintains that his consistent practice and match play at home kept him fully prepared. Iqbal explains that his tactical decision to step outside the crease was to negate the threat of the new ball, which helped him navigate a strong Karnataka bowling attack. Iqbal credits the JKCA's decision to involve the team in tournaments like the Buchi Babu for their growth and praises the senior players for maintaining a positive environment. While he reflects on his journey from the India Under-19 level and plans to take his career one game at a time, his immediate focus is on celebrating this monumental achievement.

The President of BCCI - Mithun Manhas, former administrator for the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, describes the team's maiden Ranji Trophy victory as the culmination of an amazing journey that began in June 2021. He attributes the historic success to a strict adherence to professional processes and the strategic inclusion of veteran leadership. Manhas highlights that the arrival of captain Paras Dogra provided essential stability and calmness, while head coach Ajay Sharma utilized his extensive experience from five previous finals to refine the team's batting. The defining factor, according to Manhas, is that the players finally began to believe in their own potential. He dedicates the win to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and former cricketers who struggled without modern facilities. Acknowledging the support of the BCCI and the competitive spirit shown by opponents Uttarakhand and Karnataka, Manhas asserts that the better team dominated the five-day final and that this triumph is only the beginning for JKCA.

The man of the moment - The victorious skipper of Jammu and Kashmir, Paras Dogra, describes the victory as the most significant moment of his life. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he struggles to find the words to express the magnitude of the achievement. Dogra credits the entire squad for the win, praising the consistent performance of the 14-15 core players rather than just the playing eleven. Dogra reveals that from the tournament's outset, the team maintained an unwavering belief that they would secure the title. When asked about his future career, the veteran skipper remains non-committal, choosing instead to focus on immediate celebrations before deciding his next steps.

A quick chat - Sunil Kumar describes the experience of winning as a dream come true, noting that the reality of the achievement may take months to fully sink in. He highlights the impact of teammate Auqib Nabi, explaining that bowling alongside him makes his own job much easier. Overwhelmed by the moment, Kumar finds the feeling nearly impossible to describe and confirms that the team's celebrations will continue for several days to come.

Time for some flash interviews...

Qamran and Sahil's twin tons - As Day 5 began, it was all about finishing in style. Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra comfortably played out the entire first session, knocking the ball around with ease. The cherry on top of this historic match was Qamran Iqbal bringing up a glorious century, a massive achievement in a grand finale. It got even sweeter when Sahil Lotra also notched up his maiden first-class ton. With the game completely out of Karnataka's reach, they decided to shake hands and the match ended in a draw, officially making Jammu and Kashmir the champions of domestic cricket!

Jammu and Kashmir refused a follow-on! Deciding not to enforce the follow-on, Jammu and Kashmir came out to bat again to bat Karnataka out of the game. They suffered an early scare, slipping to 11 for 2, but Qamran Iqbal and Paras Dogra rode their luck and steadied the ship. By the final session of Day 4, you could see Karnataka's shoulders drop. They had accepted defeat, and the bowlers were just going through the motions. Jammu and Kashmir safely navigated the session, stretching their massive lead to 477 and putting one hand firmly on the trophy.

The Nabi show and Mayank's resistance - In reply, Karnataka crumbled under the scoreboard pressure, getting bowled out for just 293. The wrecker-in-chief was Auqib Nabi, who looked absolutely unplayable on this track, finishing with spectacular figures of 5 for 54. He triggered a stunning top-order collapse that saw Karnataka slip to 57 for 4. Mayank Agarwal was the lone warrior, fighting back with a heroic, backs-to-the-wall knock of 160. Despite his fighting century, the Jammu and Kashmir pacers eventually wiped out the tail to secure that match-winning 291-run lead.