Karnataka vs Jammu and Kashmir, Final, Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 - Commentary

It’s the beginning of a new dawn for a region that has been impacted by political issues over the years. Sports brings people together and the people of Jammu & Kashmir will cherish this dream run for a long, long time! There will be celebrations in the streets of Srinagar, Jammu, Kargil, Akhnoor, Poonch, Kathua and Baramulla. The game of cricket will receive a huge boost in J&K. There’s no dearth of talent even in remote areas in India and J&K’s road to glory will serve as an inspiration to the less privileged. Heroes emerge through hard work, grit, determination and perseverance and here’s a prime example of that. Struggles give you the zeal and motivation to push beyond your limits and when you keep pushing through, the door eventually opens. This day will be etched forever in the memories of all the people associated with J&K! On that note, we bring the curtains down. This is Abhinav Guha signing off on behalf of Praveen and Krishna. Until next time, goodbye and cheers!

Time for the glory moment! Paras Dogra has been presented the trophy by BCCI President Mithun Manhas and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia. He joins his teammates with the winner's hoarding in front of them and they pose for photographs with beaming smiles on their faces. After a while, the J&K Chief Minister also joins the players for photographs.

Paras Dogra | Jammu & Kashmir captain: (On his feelings) I have no words to be honest, can't describe it right now, I think it will take some time to describe for what I'm feeling right now. I feel I'm very lucky that I got a group like this, I got an association like this, who just supported and, to play with, to rub shoulder with these guys, it just has been amazing and everyone has been fantastic. I have no words to explain how good our team is. (On losing the quarterfinal by just one run last season and what did they do differently this season) Because we learned from that one run, so from the beginning we were talking about that each and every run is very crucial from the league games. So whenever we went in, we were like just give your 100 percent, whatever result it is, we don't care, but we just don't want to repeat the thing again. So we have been always on the mark and God has been helping us and here we are. (On the toss decision) It (the surface) was looking like a little dry, so I thought like maybe it's gonna turn later on. So after that when we (him and Ajay Sharma) had a talk, we thought to bat first. (On where does he see himself in a few months) To be honest, I don't know where I will be. Never thought to be here. So we'll enjoy with the boys for a couple of days. Let's see where I will go.

Auqib Nabi Dar | Player of the Series: (On this season) It was unbelievable because this is the first time we’ve won the Ranji Trophy. It still doesn’t feel real that we’ve won it. When I started playing for J&K, my dream was always to win a trophy - especially the Ranji Trophy in red-ball cricket. We’ve been trying for a long time. There was a lot of hard work and a lot of struggle. The whole team worked together, and finally we’ve won this cup. (On stepping up in the big matches) My plan is always simple, no matter which match it is. I try to give my best in every game. Whenever the team requires something, I try to put in my full effort because every match is important. When you reach the knockouts, every match becomes a must-win. So my mindset is to contribute to the team in whatever way possible and give my 100 percent. (On his biggest strength) I think I don’t overthink about results. I focus on my process. I don’t bowl just by looking at the batter - my focus is to hit the right areas consistently and get the batter out so that my team can win. They (his family) are extremely happy. Everyone has supported me a lot. Without their support on this journey, I wouldn’t be here today. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir and tell them something - in these days I’ve received so many messages, wishes, and prayers. I’m very grateful to all of them. My message would be this: even if you don’t have facilities, even if resources are limited, just work hard and don’t think about anything else. Give it your all and keep inspiring others through your dedication.

Shubham Pundir | Player of the Match: It still feels surreal. It feels like a fairytale. But I think for our region, for all the players, and for the management, this is a huge achievement. Everyone has worked so hard for so many years, so I think this is a great achievement. (On his mindset while batting in the first innings) The aim was to bat as long as possible. Our plan was ideally to aim for 500-600 runs. But more than the exact number of runs, the focus was on batting for as long as we could. We tried to build a long innings. I think my plan was to see off the new ball as much as possible - play straight and safely early on - and then look to attack the spinners. That’s what the wicket demanded. There was some seam movement with the new ball, so the idea was to get through that phase. After that, there wasn’t much assistance for the spinners. I think I really enjoy batting with both of them (Yawer and Samad). With Yawer, there’s always a bit of fun and light moments in between. And with Samad, it’s a different kind of enjoyment because he takes the pressure away from you with his attacking style. I really enjoyed batting with both of them. (On area of improvement) I think my outside-off-stump play and some aspects of my front-foot game - I’d like to improve there. Next year, you’ll definitely see improvement.

Devdutt Padikkal | Karnataka captain: Really proud of the boys to get to a Ranji final is not easy. It takes a lot of sacrifice, a lot of effort. So really proud of them and of course all credit goes to J&K. They played some really good cricket throughout the season and they thoroughly deserved it. (On the toss) We always understood the toss will play a big role, but at the end of the day it's a final, the pressures of the final will be there regardless of what you do once you win the toss. So it was up to us to really step up. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that and they played much better cricket than us. (On their approach to handling Nabi) He's bowled exceptionally well throughout the season. Our batsmen have got a lot of runs as well. So we backed ourselves to play out those spells as well. But at the end of the day, he just got the better of us. And that's how it goes sometimes, when someone's having such a great season, it's not that easy to really negate that sort of performance from his side and really happy for him. I feel to have a season like that to get 60 odd wickets is something incredible. And he's put his heart and soul into the whole season and really happy for him as well. (On the areas of concern for Karnataka cricket) To be honest, this is the first loss I've felt as a captain. So I have to start to really adjust to that as well. But at the same time, I'm really happy with the way the boys have played. There is a lot of young guys coming through and for them to get to a Ranji Trophy final so early in their career is something really incredible. And I'm sure that this will really motivate them and continue to improve them with this season under our belts. I'm sure coming back next year as well, I'm sure all these guys will continue to improve.

Time for the presentations.

J&K had a humble start to their campaign. They were overpowered by Mumbai, succumbing to a 35-run defeat in Srinagar. But then, a massive innings victory against Rajasthan gave them the belief they needed. Auqib Nabi took 10 wickets in that match to set up the victory for his side. Their pace battery bowled with incisiveness throughout the tournament, which was the major reason for their success.Three wins and three draws enabled J&K to finish Group D in second position on the points table. In the quarterfinal, J&K faced Madhya Pradesh and lifted their game by a notch. J&K secured a stirring 56-run win, making it to their first-ever semi-final appearance in the Ranji Trophy. J&K kept their momentum up against Bengal as well, overcoming an on-song Mohammed Shami, to reach their maiden Ranji final. J&K preserved their best against Karnataka as they thrived under pressure in their first Ranji final and stole the limelight with a dominant show throughout the contest. Special mention to Nabi - he bowled with tremendous consistency to finish as the highest wicket-taker of the season (60 wickets) and was instrumental in leading J&K to glory!

When the season began, who would have thought that J&K will make it to their maiden Ranji final! That’s what underdogs are all about – they can defy all odds and inspire one and all. J&K’s dream run was perhaps written in the stars. Ajay Sharma, J&K coach, is the hero behind the scenes. Ajay Sharma scored more than 10,000 runs in first-class cricket. His career ended when he received a life ban after being accused in the match-fixing scandal that shook the cricket world. He was cleared of the match-fixing charges by a Delhi court after 15 years. Life gave him a second chance and he rediscovered himself through coaching. The J&K players used to play with a slam-bang approach in the nets. Ajay Sharma has reshaped their mindset and those players are now flourishing in red-ball cricket. They have given their coach the biggest gift by winning their maiden Ranji title.

Now, let's talk a bit about the journey of Jammu & Kashmir this season...

Qamran Iqbal: I'm feeling good. Our state has won the Ranji Trophy for the first time. It is the effort of all the boys, the coaches and the administrators so congratulations to JKCA. (On how was his journey from Srinagar to Hubballi?) Khajuria bhai got injured a day earlier. I was at my home and I got a call from our team. It was 3 o'clock in the afternoon. So I caught a flight in the evening. That's it. Next day at 8 in the morning I was here. (On his preparation for the Ranji final) I was playing matches and practising so the preparation was there. (On whether using his feet in the first innings when there was some help for the seamers a tactical move or was it his confidence?) It was both, confidence and a bit tactical as well, because it was a new ball and day 1 so I will say both. They (Karnataka) have a very good team. I enjoyed playing against them. And our team won. So congrats to JKCA. First I will start with JKCA administrators. Mithun sir, Anil Gupta sir, Majid sir. They have helped us with our preparation. BCCI send us to play the matches outside. We have played Buchi Babu, we have played everything. And then Ajay Sharma sir. He is so focused for the team. He takes everything very seriously. He doesn't take anything lightly. And the result is this. And the senior players in the team. Paras bhai, Shubham (Khajuria) bhai, Shubham Pundir and Samad. They are all senior players. They contribute a lot and keep the atmosphere good. And Auqib bhai is doing exceptional bowling. Yudhvir is also there. Everyone has contributed that's why we won. Kanhaiya, Sahil Lotra, Abid Mushtaq, everyone played a good role. (On having played U-19 cricket alongside a talented player like Yashasvi Jaiswal a few years back and his journey going ahead) Everything's okay. The focus is match to match. We have won today so there will be celebrations. Let's see what happens in the future.

Mithun Manhas | President of BCCI & former J&K director of cricket: (On his feelings on J&K pulling it through in the Ranji final) Well, I think it's been an amazing journey. Started way back in June 2021 and I would like to especially thank the BCCI back then for the kind of support they gave us, especially Jay (Shah) bhai. And he was the first secretary back then after a span of 67 years who came to Jammu, saw our condition and then there was no looking back for all of us. I always believed, I'm a person of process and I've always believed that you need to have your seniors around. We had a great bunch of players and who've been doing exceedingly well. We have shown our glimpse at times in the past as well. But I think with Paras coming in, I think we got the stability, the experience, the calmness, and that's what he brought to the team. And with Ajay bhai coming in, I think he has experience of playing five finals and the kind of batting he used to do in his time and that has really helped our boys grow. (On the mindset in the team when two boys "Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra" were brought in for this game due to forced injuries to others) I think the best part that has happened in the last four years is they started believing in themselves and the rest is history. Absolutely, I mean, this win is dedicated to all the people back home, especially in Jammu and Kashmir and all the ex-cricketers back home. And many thanks to BCCI for the kind of support we wanted, they gave us. And I'm sure all the other teams that like Uttarakhand, played some exceedingly good cricket throughout the tournament and they have also started believing. It's just a matter of time and the kind of hard work you put behind and the results will follow. Well, I think it's just the start of JKCA. You'll see a lot more coming. BCCI is always there for all the state associations. And I think this is a pyramid tournament and hats off to the Karnataka team as well for playing good cricket. But it's only the better team won today. And many congratulations to JKCA for playing some excellent cricket throughout those five years and all the sessions they have dominated, very well done and I'm so happy for the boys.

Paras Dogra: (What does the trophy mean to him?)I just can't explain to be honest. I don't have any words right now. At this time, it's just the biggest thing right now in my life and I have a lot of gratitude for it. (On his role) To be honest, I have been lucky to be with JKCA and the guys have been phenomenal. They have been excellent and it's not about the 11, like 14, 15 guys, if you'll see, they have been tremendous. They have been putting their hand up and they have been performing really well. They are really keen to win the matches and from the beginning, they have been 100 percent sure that we're gonna win this. (On what lies ahead for him) Let's see. Let me celebrate. You will see what happens next.

Sunil Kumar: When Auqib is bowling at the other end, it makes your job much easier. And this moment that we are living right now is nothing less than a dream for us. There are no words to express my feelings right now, I feel it will take us few months for this moment to sink in and to realise what we have achieved. (On their plans for celebration this evening) Forget just this evening - I think there will be many evenings of celebration like this.

A massive 291-run first-innings lead put J&K into the driver’s seat. Karnataka’s only opportunity to get back in the game was to dismiss J&K cheaply in their second essay and then set up a chase. They had J&K in a bit of trouble at 11/2 but Qamran Iqbal saw the new ball off and stitched back-to-back fifty partnerships with Dogra and Samad to take the game further away from Karnataka. Then, Qamran and Lotra shut the doors completely on Karnataka with their measured approach. Both Qamran and Lotra scored centuries and will remember their knocks for a lifetime! Remember, a couple of injuries paved a way for both of them into the side and they made their opportunities count to the optimum. The game meandered along since the later half of Day 4 and the Karnataka players were just going through the motions. Paras Dogra eventually declared during the second session of the final day to send the J&K side into a frenzy.

14:12 Local Time, 08:42 GMT, 14:12 IST: This is the moment! Paras Dogra declares and the entire squad storms into the field in celebration. It's past 2.10pm local time and both captains choose to shake hands. J&K, courtesy their massive first-innings lead, win this drawn contest. What a special day for a terrific bunch of cricketers! The J&K players are dancing to dhol beats. J&K coach, Ajay Sharma, has a beaming smile on his face and he is showing a few moves as well. The chief minister of J&K has a proud look on his face! History has been made! Jammu & Kashmir will be crowned as the new Ranji champions. It has taken J&K 67 years to find that elusive glory but here it is! Playing their first-ever Ranji final and that too against Karnataka (Eight-time Ranji champions) was a huge ask but the way they maintained their tempo throughout the contest shows how far they have come in red-ball cricket. J&K were dominant with both bat and ball and shut Karnataka down with their calculative approach. They had the grit and belief but their skill-sets shone through as well. Six of their top seven batters scored fifty-plus to set up the game with Pundir scoring a century while Nabi’s seventh 5-fer of the season pushed Karnataka further on the back foot.