Day four of the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final at Hubli’s KSCA ground turned into a Jammu and Kashmir masterclass, as they piled on the pressure against Karnataka. Closing at 186 for 4 in the second innings, their lead ballooned to 477 runs, virtually handing them the trophy.
Karnataka’s resistance ended at 293 all out. Mayank Agarwal’s elegant 160, featuring 21 fours, was a standout, bolstered by a 79-run partnership with Krithik Krishna (36). Yet, Shreyas Gopal’s 27 couldn’t prevent a tail-end surrender, with 52 runs for the final four wickets.
Star performer Aqib Nabi spearheaded the attack with 5 for 54 off 23 overs. Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh grabbed two each, vindicating J&K’s first-innings 584 for a hefty 291-run cushion.
Early jitters marked J&K’s second innings: Yawar Hasan out for 1, Shubham Pundir for 4, and skipper Paras Dogra for 16, courtesy Prassiddha Krishna. Recovery came via Kamran Iqbal’s gritty 94 not out and Abdul Samad’s 32 in a 73-run rescue act. Sahil Lotra (16*) joined Iqbal at stumps.
As the final day dawns, J&K stand on the brink of glory, their comprehensive control underscoring a campaign of resilience and skill.