Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Final: Jammu & Kashmir Close to Maiden Title, CM Omar Abdullah Backs Team in Hubballi
By: Javid Amin | 27 February 2026
A Title Within Reach: History Awaits Jammu & Kashmir
In what could become one of the most defining moments in Indian domestic cricket, Jammu & Kashmir stand just hours away from lifting their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
At the iconic final of the 2025–26 season against powerhouse Karnataka in Hubballi, J&K have not merely competed — they have dominated. With a lead now crossing 500 runs and Karnataka staring at near-impossible odds, the script increasingly reads like destiny.
For a team appearing in its first-ever Ranji Trophy final, this is more than a sporting achievement. It is a generational milestone.
Match Situation: How J&K Took Complete Control
Day 4: The Spell That Broke Karnataka
The turning point arrived when seam-bowling allrounder Auqib Nabi produced a devastating spell of 5/54, dismantling Karnataka’s resistance and bowling them out for 293.
It was his seventh five-wicket haul of the season, underlining a campaign of rare consistency and control.
Karnataka, a side rich in domestic pedigree, struggled against disciplined seam bowling. Nabi attacked the stumps, exploited movement off the surface, and maintained relentless pressure.
This was not a lucky burst. It was clinical, strategic fast bowling.
Qamran Iqbal’s Composed Authority
As Karnataka folded, J&K tightened their grip.
Young opener Qamran Iqbal produced a mature unbeaten 94 on Day 4, guiding J&K to a staggering 477-run overall lead by stumps.
He didn’t rush. He didn’t force strokes. He built an innings.
By Day 5, that patience converted into a landmark century — a knock that symbolised composure under historic pressure.
When your opener scores a hundred in a Ranji final while sitting on a mountain of advantage, the psychological message to the opposition is unmistakable.
Sahil Lotra’s Crucial Fifty
Allrounder Sahil Lotra then added a vital half-century, ensuring the lead surged beyond 500.
At that stage, Karnataka were no longer chasing a target. They were battling inevitability.
Why This Final Is Historic
First-Ever Ranji Final Appearance
Jammu & Kashmir have never before reached this stage in the history of the Ranji Trophy.
To now stand on the brink of winning it in their debut final makes this campaign extraordinary.
The Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic competition since 1934, has traditionally been dominated by established cricketing powerhouses. Teams from emerging regions have often struggled for recognition and structural backing.
J&K have rewritten that narrative.
Symbolic Support: CM Omar Abdullah Flies to Hubballi
As the match tilted decisively in J&K’s favour, Omar Abdullah flew to Hubballi to personally cheer the team.
His presence carried symbolic weight.
Calling the team’s performance a “moment of pride,” he praised their fearless cricket and the confidence they displayed against one of India’s most decorated domestic sides.
In a region where sport often becomes a vehicle for aspiration and identity, the Chief Minister’s presence underscored how deeply this run resonates beyond cricket.
The Road to the Final: A Campaign Built on Belief
Group Stage Performances
J&K’s journey was not flawless — it was resilient.
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vs Mumbai – Narrow 35-run defeat
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vs Rajasthan – Innings and 41-run win
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vs Chhattisgarh – Draw
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vs Delhi – Seven-wicket victory
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vs Hyderabad – Convincing win
The narrow loss to Mumbai proved formative rather than damaging. The squad recalibrated, strengthened their bowling combinations, and began building momentum.
Quarterfinal: Tactical Precision vs Tamil Nadu
Against Tamil Nadu, J&K’s bowling depth became evident. Seamers struck early, spinners controlled the middle sessions, and the batting unit capitalised on first-innings advantages.
It was a complete team performance — something that has defined their season.
Semifinal vs Bengal: Auqib Nabi the Talisman
Against Bengal, Auqib Nabi starred with both bat and ball.
He contributed crucial runs lower down the order and then delivered breakthroughs that tilted the match.
J&K chased confidently to win by six wickets. Nabi was named Player of the Match.
That semifinal wasn’t just a win — it was a declaration of intent.
Final vs Karnataka: Session-by-Session Authority
Day 1: Shubham Pundir Sets the Tone
Middle-order batter Shubham Pundir struck an unbeaten 117 as J&K ended Day 1 strongly at 284/2.
It was a technically correct, temperament-driven innings.
He absorbed pressure early, punished width, rotated strike intelligently, and converted his start into a commanding three-figure score.
Days 3–4: Bowling Supremacy
Once Karnataka batted, J&K’s pace battery attacked relentlessly.
Nabi’s 5/54 was backed by disciplined spells from the supporting seamers.
This wasn’t express pace. It was sustained pressure.
Day 5: The Lead Crosses 500
By Day 5, with Qamran Iqbal’s century and Lotra’s fifty, the lead crossed 500.
In a five-day first-class match, chasing 500+ on a wearing surface against in-form seamers borders on fantasy.
The Leadership Factor: Paras Dogra’s Influence
Captain Paras Dogra has been the calming influence.
At 40, Dogra has provided structure to a young team filled with explosive talent.
He has:
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Trusted youth in key situations
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Rotated bowlers strategically
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Backed aggressive field placements
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Instilled belief in knockout cricket
Experience plus fearless youth — that blend has defined this squad.
Emerging Heroes of the Campaign
1️⃣ Qamran Iqbal – The Backbone
Age 23. Composed. Technically sound.
His century in the final may well become one of the defining knocks in J&K cricket history.
2️⃣ Auqib Nabi – The Match-Winner
Seven five-wicket hauls in a season is elite territory in first-class cricket.
Nabi has:
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Delivered breakthroughs with the new ball
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Reversed swing with the old ball
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Added valuable lower-order runs
He is the heartbeat of this campaign.
3️⃣ Abdul Samad – The X-Factor
Aggressive middle-order batter Abdul Samad has shifted momentum in tight sessions with counter-attacking strokeplay.
He forces bowlers to alter lengths.
That changes games.
4️⃣ Vanshaj Sharma – Rising Pace Option
Young pacer Vanshaj Sharma delivered key breakthroughs in the semifinal.
He complements Nabi by attacking different angles and lengths.
Why This Victory Would Be Transformational
Sporting Significance
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First Ranji final appearance
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Likely first Ranji Trophy title
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Statement win against an established powerhouse
Psychological Impact
For decades, J&K cricket functioned on the margins of national conversations.
Winning this title would alter that permanently.
Young cricketers across the region would see a pathway — not just participation.
National Cricket Implications
Domestic cricket thrives on competitive balance.
If J&K lift the trophy, it will:
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Broaden India’s domestic talent pool
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Encourage investment in emerging regions
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Reinforce merit-based progression
The Emotional Reflection: “Seven Decades in the Making”
Former captain Parvez Rasool reflected emotionally, noting it took nearly seven decades for J&K to approach national championship status.
His words capture the scale of this achievement.
This is not a seasonal surge.
It is a structural breakthrough.
Tactical Analysis: Why Karnataka Couldn’t Break Through
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Inconsistent first-innings partnerships
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Inability to counter disciplined seam movement
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Scoreboard pressure from 500+ aggregate deficit
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Lack of sustained bowling pressure in key sessions
Once J&K crossed a 450-run cushion, Karnataka were fighting mathematics more than cricket.
What Happens Next?
Unless there is an extraordinary twist, Jammu & Kashmir are hours away from sealing their maiden Ranji Trophy crown.
Whether by innings margin or by overwhelming first-innings dominance, the outcome appears inevitable.
Final Word: A New Chapter in Indian Domestic Cricket
This campaign has not been built on hype.
It has been built on:
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Skill
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Patience
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Leadership
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Collective belief
If the trophy is lifted, it will symbolise resilience, aspiration, and the rise of a team that refused to remain outsiders.
The 2025–26 Ranji Trophy final may ultimately be remembered as the season when Jammu & Kashmir stopped chasing history — and began creating it.
