Jammu and Kashmir wins maiden Ranji Trophy against Karnataka

Jammu & Kashmir secures its first Ranji Trophy title, overcoming Karnataka and marking a historic moment in Indian cricket.

For long, Jammu & Kashmir was merely a distant outpost in India’s cricketing map.

On Saturday (February 28, 2026) at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium here, it moved to the front and centre by winning its maiden Ranji Trophy crown after overcoming eight-time titlist Karnataka. The match was drawn and J& K was adjudged the champion after having secured a humongous 291-run first-innings lead.

J&K is now the 19th different team to have won Indian domestic cricket’s biggest prize, and coming as it does in a decade where hitherto unfancied sides like Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh have established themselves as champion outfits, J & K’s ascension further signals the growing footprint of the game.

J&K had reached the quarterfinals thrice before – in 2013-14, 2019-20 and 2024-25. Last year’s run, unfortunately, had ended in a heart-break when Kerala bagged the semifinal berth by securing a one-run first-innings lead. Saturday was a sweet redemption.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah applauds on day 5 of Ranji Trophy Final match against Karnataka, at KSCA Rajinagar Stadium, in Hubballi on February 28, 2026 | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

At no point during the five days of action here did J&K display the nervousness and jitters that first-time finalists generally do. The fixture was its third straight knockout tie away from home, and it had lost seasoned opening batter Shubham Khajuria and young all-rounder Vanshaj Sharma to injuries on the eve of the contest.