Jammu and Kashmir Takes Charge in Ranji Trophy Final Against Karnataka

In the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final, Jammu and Kashmir has established a strong position against Karnataka. With a remarkable first innings total of 584, highlighted by Shubham Pundir's century, they have put pressure on the eight-time champions. Karnataka's response has been led by Mayank Agarwal's unbeaten 130, but they face a challenging task ahead. The match has seen significant performances from both sides, making it an exciting contest. Stay tuned for more updates as the final unfolds.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 19:47 IST

Jammu and Kashmir's Dominant Performance

In a remarkable display, first-time finalists Jammu and Kashmir have established a strong lead against the seasoned eight-time champions Karnataka at the conclusion of Day 3 in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final held at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Thursday.

Impressive Innings from J&K Batters

Jammu and Kashmir's first innings saw them score an impressive 584 runs over 173.1 overs. Shubham Pundir was the standout performer, scoring 121 runs off 247 balls, including 12 boundaries and two sixes.

Opener Yawer Hassan narrowly missed a century, contributing 88 runs from 150 balls with 13 fours. The pair formed a significant partnership, adding 139 runs for the second wicket.

Other notable contributions came from captain Paras Dogra, who scored 70 runs off 166 balls with eight fours, Abdul Samad with 61 runs off 104 balls (six fours, one six), wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiyan Wadhawan with 70 runs off 109 balls (nine fours), and Sahil Lotra, who added 72 runs off 138 balls (eight fours), all helping to build a formidable total.

Karnataka's Bowling Highlights

Karnataka's Prasidh Krishna was the standout bowler, achieving a five-wicket haul with figures of 5/98 in 34.1 overs. Other bowlers included Vidyadhar Patil (1/116), Vijaykumar Vyshak (1/75), Shreyas Gopal (1/139), and Shikhar Shetty (1/125), each taking one wicket.

Agarwal's Resilience in Karnataka's Response

In reply, Mayank Agarwal's unbeaten 130 runs off 207 balls, featuring 17 fours, has brought Karnataka to a total of 220/5 in 69 overs by the end of Day 3. Other batsmen struggled to make significant contributions, with KL Rahul scoring 13 runs off 39 balls (two fours), captain Devdutt Padikkal adding 11 runs off 10 balls (two fours), and both Karun Nair and Smaran Ravichandran dismissed for zero runs. Shreyas Gopal managed to score 27 runs off 83 balls with one four.

Match Progression Overview

On Day 1, Jammu and Kashmir had a strong start, reaching 284/2, with Shubham Pundir scoring a century and Yawer Hassan contributing 88 runs. Day 2 saw them extend their lead to 527/6 before play was halted due to poor light.