Captain Paras Dogra’s men dominated from the outset. Electing to bat, they racked up 584, powered by Pundir’s century and gritty knocks from Khan, Lotra, Wadhavan, and Dogra himself. Karnataka folded for 293, trailing by 291 runs—a lead that proved insurmountable.

J&K’s second innings ended at 342/4 (declared), forcing a draw and clinching the trophy. CM Omar Abdullah, witnessing the glory live, declared ₹2 crore for the squad and staff. Posting a jubilant video on X, he said the win inspires the entire region, adding job assurances for the stars.

LG Manoj Sinha lauded the ‘tremendous players’ for etching history, proclaiming J&K’s golden era in sports. Overcoming Karnataka’s home advantage demanded extraordinary skill and nerve, which J&K displayed all season. This victory transcends cricket, symbolizing unity and determination in a strife-torn area.

Fans flooded streets in celebration, while analysts hail it as a turning point. With top-tier performances and strategic brilliance, J&K has arrived on the national stage, promising more glory ahead.

Speaking candidly, Kumar argued that sustained excellence demands recognition. ‘Aqib’s form is red-hot. Giving him an India cap now would be ideal,’ he stated. ‘You’ll either get a game-changer or valuable insights on fine-tuning his skills. Domestic cricket’s purpose is to spotlight such talents.’

With India’s fast bowling depth under scrutiny—primarily reliant on Bumrah and Siraj—Dar emerges as a ready-made solution. ‘These knockout battles reveal true contenders for the national side,’ Kumar added. ‘No solid backups in pace at the moment, so Aqib is the logical choice.’

Statistics back the hype. Dar’s 55 wickets from nine games place him second on the tournament charts, with an elite average of 12.73. His six five-wicket hauls include marathon efforts: 12 victims versus Madhya Pradesh in quarters and nine in the semifinal rout of Bengal.

As the final looms, Dar’s story transcends regional pride. It’s a reminder for Indian selectors amid a packed international calendar. Will they heed the coach’s plea and blood a new pace warrior?

The star-studded Karnataka batting lineup set the tone early, amassing 736 in their first essay. Devdutt Padikkal’s 232-run double ton was the highlight, backed by KL Rahul’s 141 and Smaran R Ravichandran’s 135. Aditya Rawat’s four-fer and Mayank Mishra’s three wickets provided some resistance for Uttarakhand.

Chasing the mountain of runs, Uttarakhand folded for 233, with Lakshya Rajesh’s 55 the best they could muster. Aditya Rawat fought valiantly with 45 not out. Karnataka’s bowlers dominated: Vidhyadhar Patil and Vijaykumar Vyshak shared six wickets, Shreyas Gopal took two.

Batting again, Karnataka declared at 323, Smaran Ravichandran’s 127 and Rahul’s unbeaten 86 lighting up the innings. Uttarakhand’s second innings stuttered to 260/6, falling way short of the 827 target. This sets up an epic final against Jammu & Kashmir, who stunned Bengal to reach their first-ever decider on February 24.