Jammu and Kashmir End Historic 67-Year Drought to Win Their First Ranji Trophy

February 28, 2026 () – scripted history by clinching their maiden title, ending a 67-year wait after a dominant performance against the in the 2026 final.

Jammu and Kashmir took complete control of the match with a massive first-innings total of 584, built through collective partnerships. anchored the middle order with a steady half-century, while provided early momentum at the top and ensured stability with an unbeaten fifty.

The final swung decisively in favour of Jammu and Kashmir through a match-shaping spell by . The right-arm pacer removed key batters early, including , and finished with a five-wicket haul as Karnataka were dismissed for 293. Despite a valiant 160 from , the hosts were left trailing by a daunting 291-run first-innings deficit.

In the second innings, Jammu and Kashmir chose control over aggression. Recovering from an early wobble, and Sahil Lotra batted across Days 4 and 5 to completely shut the door on any Karnataka comeback. Qamran struck a commanding 160, while Lotra completed a composed century, guiding the side to 342 for 4 before declaration.

With the target far beyond reach, the final drifted into inevitability. The historic victory crowned a remarkable season for Auqib Nabi, who finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 60 wickets and capped the campaign with a decisive performance on the biggest stage.

Jammu and Kashmir’s captain Paras Dogra described the moment as overwhelming, as the team finally transformed decades of participation into a long-awaited national title. The triumph marked one of the most significant milestones in the history of the state’s domestic cricket journey.