Today’s Ranji Trophy final: Will Karnataka reign for the 9th time or will J&K make history?

Jammu and Kashmir’s debut in the Ranji Trophy final is a story of grit, passion, and determination, but the underdogs face a daunting challenge against eight-time champions Karnataka when the five-day clash begins today at the KSCA Stadium in Hubballi .

Karnataka enter the final as clear favourites, not just because of their illustrious legacy, but due to a season of consistent dominance . After a shaky start against Saurashtra in Rajkot, where they lost points despite a narrow first-innings lead, the team quickly found its rhythm, dispatching rivals like Mumbai and newcomers Uttarakhand with authority. Their formidable batting lineup , featuring KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ravichandran Smaran , has been central to this success. Rahul has scored 457 runs in three matches at an average of 91.40, Karun 699 runs in eight games at 63.54, Devdutt 532 runs in five matches at 66.50, while Smaran has amassed a staggering 950 runs this season.

While the batting is formidable, Karnataka’s bowling attack is equally potent . Led by India pacer Prasidh Krishna and supported by Vidwath Kaverappa, Vidyadhar Patil, Vysakh Vijaykumar, Shikhar Shetty, and Mohsin Khan, the team has strength in depth. However, the player to watch is all-rounder Shreyas Gopal , who has taken 46 wickets and scored 442 runs at an average of 45. “Shreyas has been very good this season, often supporting frontline batsmen and bowlers, which has made Karnataka stronger in all conditions,” said former Karnataka skipper R Vinay Kumar .

Experience in high-pressure games also tilts the scales in Karnataka’s favour. Rahul, Karun, Shreyas, and Mayank Agarwal were part of the squads that won back-to-back Ranji titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15, providing guidance to younger teammates.

Jammu and Kashmir, though lacking such big-match experience, have shown remarkable resilience this season, defeating favourites like Bengal and Madhya Pradesh. Captain Paras Dogra, 41, along with head coach Ajay Sharma, will be crucial in steadying nerves and guiding the team through its historic challenge. Their bowling spearhead, Auqib Nabi , has taken 55 wickets this season and will look to exploit early assistance from the pitch to counter Karnataka’s batting might.

The clash promises a fascinating contest of experience, skill, and ambition , with Karnataka aiming for a ninth title and J&K chasing a dream. The match gets underway at 9:30 am today .

Teams:

Karnataka : Devdutt Padikkal (c), Mayank Agarwal, K.L. Rahul, Karun Nair, K.V. Aneesh, R. Smaran, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna, Vysakh Vijaykumar, Vidyadhar Patil, Vidwath Kaverappa, Prasidh Krishna, Mohsin Khan, Shikhar Shetty, K.L. Shrijith.

Jammu & Kashmir : Paras Dogra (c), Abdul Samad, Shubham Khajuria, Qamran Iqbal, Abid Mushtaq, Vivrant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umran Malik, Yudhvir Singh, Auqib Nabi, Sunil Kumar, Lone Nasir, Mujtaba Yousuf, Musaif Ajaz, Sahil Lotra, Vanshaj Sharma, Umar Nazir Mir, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Yawer Hassan.