The Ranji Trophy, India’s domestic cricket competition, is scheduled to host its 2026 final at Hubbali from the 24th to the 28th of February. The Final will be played between the star studded hosts, Karnataka and the aspirational debutants, Jammu & Kashmir.
This year’s final has drawn massive attention, simply, because of the fact that J & K, led by the 41 year old Ranji legend, Paras Dogra, are making their first final in 67 years of their cricketing history. A team which has taken everyone by surprise will lock horns with one of India’s richest cricketing states.
On one side we have the likes of KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal and Mayank Agarwal highlighting Karnataka’s massive batting depth, further strengthened with an equally talented bowling attack led by Prasiddh Krishna and Shreyas Gopal. The Karnataka outfit is powerful and will surely take the field as favourites to win their 3rd title after their last victory in the 86-87 season.
J & K are the challengers and have nothing to lose. The team under Ajay Sharma, one of the greats for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy, who had a brief stint with the Indian team in his playing days as well, has coached the side brilliantly. Paras Dogra, the captain himself in the twilight of his career, continues to bat with aplomb ( he recently touched the 10 k run mark in Ranji Trophy) and with Abdul Samad, the hard-hitting powerful striker and turning the heat in red ball cricket, J & K’s batting may well surprise Karnataka.
The bowling, however, is the key with the talismanic Auqib Nabi Dar being the real deal. His 9 wickets in the semi-finals and 55 overall this season have been instrumental in the rise of J & K. No wonder Auqib Nabi is not only knocking on the doors of National selection but has demolished the door itself. He is, in my opinion, the best seam bowler in domestic cricket in India at the moment. Yudhvir Singh Charak, too, has a role to play and is a formidable ally to Auqib in the bowling department.
Karnataka need to be beware of the bowling prowess of J & K and in their interest should not take J & K lightly. For the Northeners, it is a great opportunity not only to make history, but give their state a lot of joy, happiness and a glue to unite for good.
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