In a historic sporting moment, Jammu & Kashmir won its first-ever Ranji Trophy title on 28 February 2026 after 67 years of participation. The final was played against eight-time champions Karnataka at KSCA Rajnagar Stadium, Hubballi. The match ended in a draw, but J&K lifted the trophy on the basis of a huge first-innings lead of 291 runs.
Captain Paras Dogra emotionally dedicated the victory to his late father. Celebrations erupted across Srinagar and Jammu, and the UT government announced a ₹2 crore reward plus job support for players. The win is being seen not just as a cricketing achievement but a major morale boost for youth and sports in the region.
The Final Match: J&K vs Karnataka
J&K First Innings: 584 all out (173.1 overs)
Key Performances:
- Shubham Pundir – 121
- Fazil Rashid – 88
- Paras Dogra – 70
- Vivrant Sharma – 70
- Abdul Samad – 61
- Sahil Lotra – 57*
Karnataka bowlers, including Prasidh Krishna (3/90), struggled to restrict the batting line-up.
Karnataka First Innings: 293 all out (93.3 overs)
Fast bowler Auqib Nabi and spinners dismantled Karnataka, giving J&K a 291-run lead.
Second Innings:
J&K declared at 342/4 (113 overs)
- Qamran Iqbal – 160*
Karnataka finished 342/4 and the match ended in a draw. As per rules, the first-innings lead made J&K champions.
J&K reached the final after defeating strong teams like Mumbai, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Bengal in knockouts.
What is the Ranji Trophy?
The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship organized by the BCCI.
Key Facts
- Started: 1934-35
- Named after: Maharaja Ranjitsinhji
- Format: Multi-day first-class cricket
- Teams: 38 state/UT teams
- Winners play the Irani Cup vs Rest of India
Important Records
- Most titles: Mumbai (42)
- Highest individual score: BB Nimbalkar (443*)
- Most runs: Wasim Jaffer
- Most wickets: S Venkataraghavan
Journey of J&K Cricket Team
J&K made its Ranji debut in 1959-60 season. For decades, lack of infrastructure and harsh winters affected practice. Gradually the team improved.
Major Milestones
- First Ranji win: vs Delhi (1960)
- Quarterfinals: 2000-01, 2013-14, 2022-23
- T20 success: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21
Key Players (2026 Squad)
- Paras Dogra – Captain
- Abdul Samad – All-rounder
- Shubham Pundir – Opener
- Auqib Nabi – Fast bowler
- Vivrant Sharma – All-rounder
- Parvez Rasool – First J&K international cricketer (India ODI 2014)
- Umran Malik – Fastest Indian pacer (IPL star)
Importance for Exams (Very Important GK)
Highly important for JKSSB, JKPSC, Police, UPSC, SSC exams.
Remember
- 2025-26 Ranji Winner → Jammu & Kashmir
- Final Opponent → Karnataka
- Victory → First-innings lead
- Ranji started → 1934
- Named after → Ranjitsinhji
- J&K debut → 1959
- First J&K international cricketer → Parvez Rasool
Related Domestic Tournaments
- Vijay Hazare Trophy – ODI
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – T20
- Duleep Trophy – Zonal
JKSSB / Competitive Exam PYQs (Sports GK)
1. The Ranji Trophy is associated with which sport?
A. Hockey
B. Football
C. Cricket ✔️
D. Tennis
2. Ranji Trophy was started in which year?
A. 1928
B. 1934 ✔️
C. 1947
D. 1952
3. Ranji Trophy is named after:
A. Kapil Dev
B. Maharaja Ranjitsinhji ✔️
C. CK Nayudu
D. Lala Amarnath
4. First-class cricket in India is represented by:
A. IPL
B. Vijay Hazare Trophy
C. Ranji Trophy ✔️
D. Deodhar Trophy
5. Which domestic tournament is played in T20 format?
A. Duleep Trophy
B. Ranji Trophy
C. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ✔️
D. Irani Cup
6. First cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to play for India:
A. Abdul Samad
B. Umran Malik
C. Parvez Rasool ✔️
D. Paras Dogra
7. Vijay Hazare Trophy is played in which format?
A. Test
B. T20
C. ODI ✔️
D. First-class
8. Ranji Trophy winners play which match afterwards?
A. Asia Cup
B. Irani Cup ✔️
C. Duleep Trophy
D. Deodhar Trophy
9. J&K made its Ranji Trophy debut in:
A. 1947
B. 1959 ✔️
C. 1965
D. 1972
10. Ranji Trophy is conducted by:
A. ICC
B. BCCI ✔️
C. IOA
D. MCA
Conclusion
J&K’s maiden Ranji Trophy title is more than a sporting success — it is a symbol of confidence and opportunity for youth. The victory will inspire new players and strengthen sports culture in the region.
Quick Revision
- Ranji Trophy Winner 2026 → J&K
- Captain → Paras Dogra
- Final Opponent → Karnataka
- Victory → First-innings lead
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