Jammu and Kashmir won their maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2025-26, defeating Karnataka in Hubballi after securing a massive 291-run first-innings lead.
Jammu and Kashmir created history on February 28 by winning the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. The team, which first competed in the 1959-60 season, secured its maiden title in Hubballi.
Led by Paras Dogra, J&K outplayed Karnataka at the KSCA Cricket Ground in Hubballi. The final stretched into Day 5, but the result became clear on Day 4. Auqib Nabi took five wickets to help J&K secure a massive 291-run first-innings lead. Karnataka failed to win a single session in the match.
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Dogra won the toss and chose to bat first. J&K piled up 584 runs across seven sessions. Shubham Pundir scored 121 at No.3. Dogra made 70, Yawer Hassan 88, Abdul Samad 61, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70 and Sahil Lotra 72. Tempers flared during the match, and Dogra later received a 50 per cent fine of his match fee following an on-field argument.
Nabi struck early to remove Rahul for 13. He then dismissed Karun Nair for 0 and Smaran Ravichandran for 0, reducing Karnataka to 57/4. Mayank Agarwal fought back with 160 and pushed the total past 280. Nabi took his seventh five-wicket haul of the season. He finished with 60 wickets and became only the third pacer to reach that mark in a single season.
J&K built on their 291-run lead. The team declared at 341/4 and won the title. Notably, J&K had lost just 1 match in 2025-26 and beat Madhya Pradesh and Bengal in the knockouts.
₹2.00 Crore Prize for Players and Support Staff
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced a cash prize of INR 2.00 crore for the players and support staff. He congratulated the squad on social media and described the Ranji Trophy win as a landmark achievement for Jammu and Kashmir.
Congratulating Team J&K on their historic triumph in the Ranji Trophy, the Chief Minister announced a cash reward of ₹2 crore for the players and support staff after their emphatic victory over Karnataka on their home turf.
— Office of Chief Minister, J&K (@CM_JnK) February 28, 2026
Calling it a watershed moment for Jammu & Kashmir… pic.twitter.com/OnRJCa1EoB
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