In a historic sporting moment, Jammu & Kashmir won its first-ever Ranji Trophy title on 28 February 2026 after 67 years of participation. The final was played against eight-time champions Karnataka at KSCA Rajnagar Stadium, Hubballi. The match ended in a draw, but J&K lifted the trophy on the basis of a huge first-innings lead of 291 runs.
Captain Paras Dogra emotionally dedicated the victory to his late father. Celebrations erupted across Srinagar and Jammu, and the UT government announced a ₹2 crore reward plus job support for players. The win is being seen not just as a cricketing achievement but a major morale boost for youth and sports in the region.

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The Final Match: J&K vs Karnataka

J&K First Innings: 584 all out (173.1 overs)
Key Performances:

• Shubham Pundir – 121
• Fazil Rashid – 88
• Paras Dogra – 70
• Vivrant Sharma – 70
• Abdul Samad – 61
• Sahil Lotra – 57*

Karnataka bowlers, including Prasidh Krishna (3/90), struggled to restrict the batting line-up.

Karnataka First Innings: 293 all out (93.3 overs)
Fast bowler Auqib Nabi and spinners dismantled Karnataka, giving J&K a 291-run lead.

Second Innings:
J&K declared at 342/4 (113 overs)

• Qamran Iqbal – 160*

Karnataka finished 342/4 and the match ended in a draw. As per rules, the first-innings lead made J&K champions.

J&K reached the final after defeating strong teams like Mumbai, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Bengal in knockouts.

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What is the Ranji Trophy?

The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship organized by the BCCI.

Key Facts

• Started: 1934-35
• Named after: Maharaja Ranjitsinhji
• Format: Multi-day first-class cricket
• Teams: 38 state/UT teams
• Winners play the Irani Cup vs Rest of India

Important Records

• Most titles: Mumbai (42)
• Highest individual score: BB Nimbalkar (443*)
• Most runs: Wasim Jaffer
• Most wickets: S Venkataraghavan

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Journey of J&K Cricket Team

J&K made its Ranji debut in 1959-60 season. For decades, lack of infrastructure and harsh winters affected practice. Gradually the team improved.

Major Milestones

• First Ranji win: vs Delhi (1960)
• Quarterfinals: 2000-01, 2013-14, 2022-23
• T20 success: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21

Key Players (2026 Squad)

• Paras Dogra – Captain
• Abdul Samad – All-rounder
• Shubham Pundir – Opener
• Auqib Nabi – Fast bowler
• Vivrant Sharma – All-rounder
• Parvez Rasool – First J&K international cricketer (India ODI 2014)
• Umran Malik – Fastest Indian pacer (IPL star)

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Importance for Exams (Very Important GK)

Highly important for JKSSB, JKPSC, Police, UPSC, SSC exams.

Remember

• 2025-26 Ranji Winner → Jammu & Kashmir
• Final Opponent → Karnataka
• Victory → First-innings lead
• Ranji started → 1934
• Named after → Ranjitsinhji
• J&K debut → 1959
• First J&K international cricketer → Parvez Rasool

Related Domestic Tournaments

• Vijay Hazare Trophy – ODI
• Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – T20
• Duleep Trophy – Zonal

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JKSSB / Competitive Exam PYQs (Sports GK)

1. The Ranji Trophy is associated with which sport?
A. Hockey
B. Football
C. Cricket ✔️
D. Tennis

2. Ranji Trophy was started in which year?
A. 1928
B. 1934 ✔️
C. 1947
D. 1952

3. Ranji Trophy is named after:
A. Kapil Dev
B. Maharaja Ranjitsinhji ✔️
C. CK Nayudu
D. Lala Amarnath

4. First-class cricket in India is represented by:
A. IPL
B. Vijay Hazare Trophy
C. Ranji Trophy ✔️
D. Deodhar Trophy

5. Which domestic tournament is played in T20 format?
A. Duleep Trophy
B. Ranji Trophy
C. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy ✔️
D. Irani Cup

6. First cricketer from Jammu & Kashmir to play for India:
A. Abdul Samad
B. Umran Malik
C. Parvez Rasool ✔️
D. Paras Dogra

7. Vijay Hazare Trophy is played in which format?
A. Test
B. T20
C. ODI ✔️
D. First-class

8. Ranji Trophy winners play which match afterwards?
A. Asia Cup
B. Irani Cup ✔️
C. Duleep Trophy
D. Deodhar Trophy

9. J&K made its Ranji Trophy debut in:
A. 1947
B. 1959 ✔️
C. 1965
D. 1972

10. Ranji Trophy is conducted by:
A. ICC
B. BCCI ✔️
C. IOA
D. MCA

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Conclusion

J&K’s maiden Ranji Trophy title is more than a sporting success — it is a symbol of confidence and opportunity for youth. The victory will inspire new players and strengthen sports culture in the region.

Quick Revision

• Ranji Trophy Winner 2026 → J&K
• Captain → Paras Dogra
• Final Opponent → Karnataka
• Victory → First-innings lead

#RanjiTrophy2026 #JKCricket #JKSSBGK #CurrentAffairs #JKSports