Ranji Trophy Final: J&K favourites for historic win after humongous batting effort on day 2
Having made their debut in 1959, J&K reached the Ranji Trophy final for the first time in 2026.
A historic final is underway at the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 competition, as 8-time champions Karnataka clash against first-time finalists in Jammu and Kashmir. The contest is being played at the KCSA Cricket Ground in Hubli, Karnataka.
It is a special moment for J&K’s cricketing legacy, having been simply sensational so far, with wins over Madhya Pradesh and Bengal in the previous two rounds. Under the leadership of the experienced 41-year-old Paras Dogra, the team look favourites to clinch their maiden title.
Karnataka meanwhile, in their backyard, will look to repeat their success from the past. It has been a while since they won the silverware, with their eighth and final triumph coming back in the 2014-15 season.
On day one, it was Shubham Pundir’s century which put JK in the driver’s seat after opting to bat first on a flat track, ably supported by Yawer Hassan’s 88.
Ranji Trophy Final Day 2: Abdul Samad’s half-century puts J&K in a dominating position
Day 2 saw more hard work in store for the Karnataka bowlers, with Prasidh Krishna’s three wickets slightly bringing them back into the match. However, despite his spell, J&K ended the day with a massive score of 527, with four wickets still in the shed.
The entire middle-order contributed with half centuries. Skipper Dogra was cleaned up for 70 by Shreyas Gopal, however he found himself involved in an intense standoff with Karnataka substitute player KV Aneesh.
Abdul Samad and wicket-keeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan smashed 61 and 70 each, while Sahil Lotra completed an unbeaten 57, to put his team in a commanding position at the end of the first two days.
Karnataka have too much to do in this match to win the Championship, having conceded a massive score. They will know that should the match end in a draw, the team which finishes with the highest score will be declared as the winner, and hence need to try to bowl out JK’s lower middle order quickly, to still stand a chance.
What was J&K’s score at the end of day 2?
JK finished the day with 527/6.
Who is J&K playing the final against?
Eight time winners Karnataka are playing against first-time finalists in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.