Jammu and Kashmir’s run to their first ever Ranji Trophy final has been one of the most compelling stories of the domestic season. For a team that debuted in the competition 67 years ago, reaching the summit clash is a milestone. It now stands five days from history.
The Ranji Trophy final will begin on Tuesday, February 24 at 9:30 AM IST at the KSCS Hubli Cricket Ground. The match will be telecast live on JioHotstar while Star Sports will provide the telecast in India.
Across the pitch in Hubballi will be eight-time champions Karnataka, a side with pedigree, depth and big-match experience. The final, which starts on Monday at the KSCA Stadium, presents a classic match between a seasoned power and an ambitious challenger aiming for the first crown.
The popular Karnataka brand is based on performance rather than reputation alone. After a bit of a shaky start against Saurashtra in Rajkot, where they conceded a slender first innings lead, they found rhythm and consistency. Since then, they have handled strong opponents including Mumbai and Uttarakhand with confidence, underlining their authority in various conditions.
The main reason for Karnataka’s strong campaign was their batting unit. KL Rahul has amassed 457 runs in just three matches at an average of 91.40. Karun Nair was equally influential, scoring 699 runs in eight matches at 63.54. Devdutt Padikkal, who took over as captain, amassed 532 runs in five matches at 66.50. Ravichandran Smaran was one of the most prolific contributors, compiling 950 runs in eight outings.
These numbers ensured that Karnataka remained formidable even during a relatively quiet season for Mayank Agarwal, who retired from the leadership role. Padikkal accepted the responsibility with aplomb, contributed valuable runs and clearly led the side in the field.
However, Karnataka’s strength is not limited to their batting. Indian seamer Prasidh Krishna leads a diverse bowling attack that includes Vidwath Kaverappa, Vidyadhara Patil, Vysakh Vijaykumar, Shikhar Shetty and Mohsin Khan. The group achieved results at various stages of the season and provided crucial breakthroughs when needed.
Among them, Shreyas Gopal stood out for his all-round impact. The leg-spinner took 46 wickets and scored 442 runs at an average of 45. His contributions often came at crucial moments, steadying the side with the bat or disrupting partnerships with the ball.
However, Jammu and Kashmir arrive with hard-earned conviction. They overcame established sides like Bengal and Madhya Pradesh on their way to the final and showed resilience and discipline under pressure. Their bowling attack has been the backbone of this progress.
Fast bowler Auqib Nabi led the charge with 55 goals this season. Consistently provided the first breakthroughs and maintained control during long spells. On the surface at Hubbali, which is expected to offer some assistance to the sailors, at least in the early stages, its role could be critical.
While Karnataka can rely on players who were part of their winning campaigns in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Jammu and Kashmir will turn to experience of a different nature. Captain Paras Dogra, now 41, brings years of knowledge of domestic cricket. Head coach Ajay Sharma, another veteran of the game, led the side through a season of steady improvement. It will be their responsibility to keep emotions in check and ensure that the team approaches the final with clarity and composure.
RANJI TROPHY FINAL: HEAD TO HEAD
In the four previous meetings between the two sides in the Ranji Trophy, Karnataka won each time, twice by an innings. When they play at home, they will look to add a ninth title to their collection and end a wait that stretches back to the 2014-15 season.
RANJI TROPHY FINALS: TEAM NEWS
Karnataka captain Devdutt Padikkal did not bat in the second innings of the semi-final after injuring his hand while attempting a catch. He also did not take the field during this innings. However, he is expected to be fit for the final.
Karnataka (Predicted XI): KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal (captain), Karun Nair, R Smaran, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna (wicketkeeper), Vidyadhar Patil, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Shikhar Shetty and Prasidh Krishna.
Jammu and Kashmir fielded an unchanged line-up in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals and are not expected to change their winning combination for the final.
J&K (Predicted XI): Shubham Khajuria, Yawer Hassan, Shubham Pundir, Paras Dogra (captain), Abdul Samad, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Abid Mushtaq, Vanshaj Sharma, Auqib Nabi, Yudhvir Singh, Sunil Kumar.
RANJI TROPHY FINALS: PITCH & WEATHER CONDITIONS
The surface at the KSCA Stadium in Hubballa is expected to offer help to the bowlers early on, especially in the opening over. The speedsters should have good pace and carrying capacity, so the first hour is crucial for both sides.
As the match goes on, the pitch is likely to settle and provide better batting conditions. Spinners could come into play later in the game when signs of wear and tear begin to appear.
Weather conditions are expected to be mostly clear, allowing for uninterrupted play for five days.
RANJI TROPHY FINAL: MATCH PREDICTION
On paper, Karnataka holds the edge. However, finals often focus on a handful of key sessions and Jammu and Kashmir have already shown they can defy expectations. Five days in Hubbali will decide whether experience will once again prevail or a new chapter will be written in Ranji Trophy history.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 23, 2026
