Hubli’s D.R. Bendre Stadium witnessed fairy-tale cricket on February 28 as Jammu and Kashmir scripted their first-ever Ranji Trophy victory, toppling eight-time winners Karnataka. Led by Paras Dogra, the underdogs leveraged a colossal first-innings advantage in a rain-affected draw to lift the trophy.
Opting to bat on winning the toss, J&K openers laid a solid platform. Shubham Pundir’s elegant 121 anchored the innings, supported by half-centuries from Yawar Hassan Khan (88), Sahil Lotra (72), Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70), and Dogra (70). The total swelled to 584, a mountain too steep for Karnataka.
The hosts faltered badly, bowled out for 293 despite Mayank Agarwal’s valiant 162. J&K’s attack was relentless—Aqib Nabi’s 5/xx dismantled the middle order, with Sunil Kumar, Yudvir Singh taking 2 wickets apiece, and Lotra adding one.
With a 291-run cushion, J&K’s second innings started shakily at 11/2. Enter Kamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra, who forged an unbeaten 197-run stand. Iqbal’s 160* and Lotra’s 101* propelled them to 342/4 declared, forcing the draw and clinching the title.
Pundir earned Player of the Match plaudits, Nabi the tournament award. For J&K, this isn’t just a win—it’s a statement of resilience from a team that defied odds, rewriting their cricketing narrative forever.