Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Final: Karnataka vs J&K — Can the Underdogs Rewrite History at Hubli?

The stage is set. The red ball is polished. And cricket’s most prestigious domestic competition in India is about to crown its champion. The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Final is here — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most compelling in recent memory.

Eight-time champions Karnataka face Jammu & Kashmir — a team making their very first Ranji Trophy final appearance. That contrast alone makes this a must-watch clash.

Ranji Trophy Match Overview

How Did They Get Here?

J&K’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring — knocking out Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinals and then stunning Bengal in the semis. Their rise is a feel-good story of Indian domestic cricket. Karnataka, meanwhile, brushed aside Mumbai in the quarters and ground out a draw against Uttarakhand to reach the final. Both roads were hard-earned.

For more on J&K’s historic semifinal win, check out our Ranji Trophy 2025-26 coverage on Technosports.

Head-to-Head Record

Karnataka have a perfect record against J&K — but this J&K side looks nothing like the ones that lost before.

Squad Snapshot

Karnataka: Devdutt Padikkal (c), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, Prasidh Krishna, Shreyas Gopal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vidwath Kaverappa, Sujay Sateri (wk) and more.

Jammu & Kashmir: Paras Dogra (c), Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, Auqib Nabi, Vivrant Sharma, Shubham Khajuria, Fazil Rashid (wk) and more.

Our Take

J&K’s bowling attack, led by the raw pace of Umran Malik, could cause serious problems on a Hubli track. But Karnataka’s batting depth — featuring international stars like KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal — is formidable. Don’t expect this to be a walkover.

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