Jammu and Kashmir wins maiden Ranji Trophy title after draw against Karnataka
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Jammu and Kashmir won their first-ever Ranji Trophy title after the final against Karnataka ended in a draw, with the team prevailing on the basis of a decisive first innings lead.
The victory marks a historic moment for the side in the 2025-26 season of India’s premier domestic first-class competition.
Fast bowler Auqib Nabi starred with figures of 5 for 54, while centuries from Shubham Pundir in the first innings and Qamran Iqbal in the second powered Jammu and Kashmir to a commanding position. Batting first in Hubballi, they posted 584 runs, with Pundir scoring 121. Yawer Hassan made 88, captain Paras Dogra 70, Abdul Samad 61, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70, and Sahil Lotra 72.
Karnataka responded with Mayank Agarwal scoring 160, but Nabi’s five-wicket haul, which included the dismissals of KL Rahul, Agarwal, and Karun Nair, restricted them and handed Jammu and Kashmir a crucial lead.
In their second innings, Jammu and Kashmir declared at 342 for 4 after Iqbal struck an unbeaten 160 off 311 balls and Lotra added 101. Their unbroken 197-run partnership left the team with a massive 633-run lead when both sides agreed to end the match.
This was Jammu and Kashmir’s 346th Ranji match and only their 47th win. Having played their first game in 1960 and earned their maiden victory in 1982, the team completed a remarkable turnaround after decades of modest results.