Day three of the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final between Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka at Hubli delivered drama aplenty. J&K, perched on a commanding 584 all out from the first dig, watched Karnataka claw back through Mayank Agarwal’s defiant unbeaten 130, but still ended at 220/5, 364 runs behind.
Karnataka’s innings mirrored a rollercoaster. An opening stand of 27 with KL Rahul (13) gave way to chaos. Captain Devdutt Padikkal (11), Karun Nair (0), and Smanan Ravichandran (0) perished in quick succession, slumping the scoreboard to a precarious 57/4.
Mayank took charge, blending caution with aggression. His 105-run alliance with Shreyas Gopal (27) was a masterclass in recovery, lifting Karnataka to 162. The duo’s unbroken 58 with Kirthik Krishna (27) then carried them past 200, with Mayank’s 17 fours showcasing his class.
J&K’s Aquib Nabi Dar was the pick of the bowlers, snaring 3/32. Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh Charak grabbed one each, maintaining relentless pressure through 69 overs.
Jammu and Kashmir’s batting firepower was on full display earlier. Shubham Pundir’s 121 (14 fours) and Yawar Hassan’s 88 formed a 139-run pillar. Abdul Samad’s 61 in a 124-run stand with Pundir bolstered the middle order. Paras Dogra (70) and Sahil Lotra (72) feasted, despite Prassid Krishna’s heroic 5/98 and wickets from Vidyadhar Patil, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Shreyas Gopal, and Shikhar Shetty.
Mayank’s ton injects life into Karnataka’s campaign, but with J&K’s lead intact, the final remains tantalizingly poised.