Jammu and Kashmir By capturing their maiden, they wrote an immortal chapter in Indian domestic cricket Ranji Trophy title on February 28, 2026, defeating the eight-time champion Karnataka On the ground of Hubballi.
Entering the finals as spirited underdogs Paras Dogra– The reigning side produced a masterclass in tactical discipline and mental toughness to secure the championship with a massive first innings advantage. The victory marks the culmination of a 67-year journey, changing the region’s cricketing landscape forever as they overcome a star-studded Karnataka unit featuring numerous Test stars.
From It is Shubham Pun‘s foundation century Augib Nabi‘s deadly pace and Gamran Iqbal‘s challenge on the last day was a collective triumph of a team that refused to fear the legacy. As the match ended in a draw with J&K leading by 633 runs, jubilant scenes in the dressing room signaled a new era for the sides.
Shubham Pundir’s corps and the middle-order strength of Jammu and Kashmir occupy the mammoth 584 post.
Jammu and Kashmir‘s maiden title was built on a monumental first innings total of 584, an effort that saw them dismiss Karnataka for seven grueling sessions. J&K lost early wickets after opting to bat on the real Hubballi surface, however It is Shubham Pun showed exemplary patience against his pace, anchoring the innings with an outstanding 121 off 247 balls. Prasidh Krishna.
The beauty of the innings was in his collective contributions as five other batsmen crossed the fifty-run mark to dismantle Karnataka’s bowling rhythm. Yaver Hasan (88) ensured a fast start as captain Paras Dogra (70) and Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70) combined middle order with professional composure.
Even when Krishna produced a late collapse to finish with 5/98, Coast Lotra (72) and Abdul Samad (61) provided significant tail wagging for the score to exceed 550. This massive total not only exhausted the Karnataka bowlers but also created huge scoreboard pressure, setting the stage for J&K’s bowlers to attack with a defensive cushion. The volume of runs scored over 173 sent a clear message that J&K were no longer content to be mere participants but were in Hubballi to dictate terms.
🏏 SHUBHAM PUNDIR SHINES WITH A CENTURY! 💥
121 against Karnataka earned him Man of the Match 🌟🔥
A performance that will be remembered for ages 💯🚀#RanjiTrophyFinal #RanjiTrophy #karnataka #JammuandKashmir #ShubhamPundir #cricket pic.twitter.com/yURu3BEPSg
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 28, 2026
Also WATCH: KL Rahul surprises with rare bowling spell during Ranji Trophy Final 2025-26; the video goes viral
Auqib Nabi’s blazing five unseats Karnataka’s star-studded line-up
Karnataka’s reply was met with a whirlwind named colossal total Augib NabiHis sensational spell of 5/54 effectively decided the fate of the Ranji Trophy. The leading wicket-taker of the season, Nabi produced a masterclass in swing and seam bowling to eliminate the heavyweights of Karnataka’s batting order in the first two sessions.
He initially stunned the home crowd by trapping them KL Rahul for only 13 and followed by dismissal Karun Nair for peach golden duck. While a veteran Mayank Agarwal Batting put on a magnificent 160, he found almost no support as Nabi returned to clean up the tail and secure a decisive 291-run first-innings lead.
supported by Yudhvir Singh and Abid MushtaqThe J&K attack kept up the relentless pressure, bowling out the eight-time champions for just 293 in 93.3 overs. The sight of Karnataka’s frontline batsmen struggling to cope with Nabi’s pace served as a symbolic transition of the guard in domestic dominance. By securing the lead, J&K mathematically had one hand on the trophy and an impossible task of forcing Karnataka to an outright win on a deteriorating final day track.
🚨 AUQIB NABI WON THE PLAYERS OF THE SERIES! 🚨
60 wickets at an average of 12.57 and 28.43 SR 🔥
Outstanding performance throughout the tournament 🌟💥#AuqibNabi #RanjiTrophyFinal #RanjiTrophy #karnataka #cricket #jammuandkashmir pic.twitter.com/gzvLJBUn4u
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 28, 2026
Ranji Trophy Final: Twin tons by Gamran Iqbal and Sahil Lothra seal historic draw and maiden title
With a massive lead, Jammu and Kashmir used the last two days to knock Karnataka out of the contest and eventually declared their second innings at 342/4. Despite swinging early at 12/2 against Prasidh Krishna, Gamran Iqbal He played the innings of his life remaining unbeaten on 160 to ensure there were no late hiccups.
brilliantly supported by Coast LotraHe reached his maiden first-class century (101*) in a luckless partnership of 197 and took the lead to an astonishing 633 runs. The frustration in the Karnataka camp was palpable as the captain Devdutt Padikkal as he had to use part-time bowlers KL Rahul and Karun Nair Get through overs in 5 pitches straight day.
The statement finally came at 2:10 pm, prompting a formal handshake between the two captains and wild celebrations among the J&K players and traveling supporters. This last act of dominance saw J&K complete the game on the final day without losing a single session, a fitting end to a campaign where they lost just one match. As he lifted the trophy Paras Dograit marked the end of a 67-year wait and the beginning of a legendary legacy for Jammu and Kashmir cricket.
🏆 HISTORIC VICTORY FOR JAMMU AND KASHMIR! 🏆
They won the Ranji Trophy title for the first time today 🇮🇳💥
A moment of glory for the region 🌟#RanjiTrophy #ranjitrophyfinal #Karnataka #Jammu and Kashmir #cricket #paradogra #aqibnabi pic.twitter.com/L52aMZVcYf
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 28, 2026
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Unbelievable! History is written today! Big congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir team for sealing their maiden #RanjiTrophy A title after 67 long years!🏆 Dominating Karnataka with pure belief, heart and unwavering spirit. He is proud beyond words #AuqibNabiflame,…
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) February 28, 2026
Many congratulations to J&k cricket for creating history by winning the first Ranji Trophy. I never doubted that you guys would win these trophies and more.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 28, 2026
Jammu and Kashmir won the Ranji Trophy for the first time in history. A monumental moment for state and local cricket!! Great team, really deserved👏
— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 28, 2026
Historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir cricket 🇮🇳
The Maiden Ranji Trophy title was built on a remarkable season with confidence, the strong leadership of Paras Dogra and the bowling of Auqib Nabi. Shubham Pundir, Yawer Hassan, Gamran Iqbal, Sahil Lotra, Abdul Samad and… pic.twitter.com/kA4AvufcaX
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 28, 2026
An inspiring journey for anyone who loves red ball cricket.
Jammu and Kashmir not only made history but also showed everyone what guts, sweat and hard work can really achieve, many congratulations to the entire squad. #ranjitrophy2026 🥳 👏
— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) February 28, 2026
Such a heartening result in the Ranji Trophy final. This is the moment that Jammu and Kashmir has been dreaming of for a long time. Doing it against the powerhouse of Karnataka is even more special.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 28, 2026
Congratulations to the Jammu and Kashmir team in India for producing an outstanding story of perseverance and determination.
While the players fully deserve the praise they have received, the contribution of the coaching staff, management and administrators must also be remembered… https://t.co/hbRwF1S41O
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) February 28, 2026
A historic day for Jammu and Kashmir cricket. Having won the first Ranji Trophy title, I know what this moment means to the players and the state. More players from J&K will now believe they can do it too. #RanjiTrophyFinal
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 28, 2026
The will to win is what matters. What a day for Jammu and Kashmir
Well, just winning the outstanding Ranji Trophy is not easy at all. They played great cricket throughout the season and played as a unit. Many congratulations and more trophies to come. great to see…— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 28, 2026
Congratulations to Jammu and Kashmir for winning their first ever Ranji Trophy title 🏆
You were great throughout the season and became a worthy team 👏👏
Good luck to our boys. Keep your heads up guys, we played some great cricket throughout the season. Here…— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) February 28, 2026
