Jammu and Kashmir completed one of the most stirring journeys in Indian domestic cricket history, clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy title after outplaying traditional powerhouse Karnataka in the final on Saturday.
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Armed with a commanding 291-run first-innings lead, J&K ensured the match drifted towards a draw, enough to secure the crown. They underlined their dominance on the final day by extending their overall lead to 633 runs, finishing at 342/4 in their second innings at the KSCA Stadium.
Opener Qamran Iqbal stood tall with an unbeaten 160, only his second first-class century, while Sahil Lotra brought up his maiden hundred (101 not out), capping a landmark moment for the team.
But this triumph was about far more than statistics. It was the culmination of a 67-year wait since J&K’s Ranji debut in a competition now 92 years old, a journey marked by heartbreaks, near-misses and quiet perseverance.
In previous seasons, 2013-14, 2019-20 and 2024-25, they had reached the knockouts only to falter. This time, however, they displayed composure beyond their years. Across five days in Hubballi, they looked every bit the champions, tactically outmanoeuvring an eight-time title-winning Karnataka side laden with India stars.
The final day summed up their authority: Karnataka failed to claim a single wicket after J&K resumed at 186/4 overnight.
It was a collective triumph. Pacer Auqib Nabi delivered yet again, claiming his seventh five-wicket haul of the season. Lotra compiled both a fifty and a hundred in the match. Captain Paras Dogra crossed the 10,000-run milestone in Ranji Trophy cricket. Yawer Hassan, Abdul Samad and Kanhaiya Wadhawan all chipped in with vital half-centuries during the campaign.
Few of these names resonate widely beyond their state. Yet across 10 matches this season, this unheralded group produced performances of remarkable consistency and character.
The campaign had begun quietly in Srinagar with a heavy defeat to Mumbai. From there, J&K’s rise gathered force like a slow-building wave.
Their semifinal against Bengal proved pivotal. After conceding a first-innings lead, they appeared cornered. But Nabi’s fiery spell dismissed Bengal for 88 in the second innings, flipping the script and perhaps shaping their belief that destiny awaited in Hubballi.
They carried that conviction into the final. Shubham Pundir’s elegant century laid the foundation for a towering first-innings total of 584, from which Karnataka never truly recovered.
Karnataka, consistent all season and chasing a ninth Ranji crown, were widely expected to prevail. But they were undone not by a dramatic collapse, but by J&K’s discipline, tactical awareness and relentless execution. The sight of KL Rahul rolling his arm over late in the match symbolised their frustration.
As Karnataka reflect on missed opportunities, J&K’s triumph transcends cricket. It is a moment capable of inspiring a new generation across the region — perhaps even sparking the infrastructure growth that players like Nabi have long hoped for.
At 2:10 pm, when both captains agreed to shake hands inside a modest dressing room, history was sealed. What followed was jubilation — not just within the team, but across a snow-clad region celebrating a victory decades in the making.
This time, the noise from Jammu and Kashmir will be one of pure joy.
