Hubli to Host Ranji Trophy Final as Karnataka Face Jammu & Kashmir

The 2025–2026 Ranji Trophy final will take place in Hubli, Karnataka. On February 19, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a formal announcement about the location. After Karnataka tied with Uttarakhand but moved into the first-innings lead due to important contributions from KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and twin centurion R Smaran, the final lineup was finalised.

The title match between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir will begin on February 24 at Hubballi. After starting the fifth and last day with an overnight score of 299 for six, Karnataka swiftly lost the next four wickets to be bowled out for 323 with an 826-run lead. Avneesh Sudha (66), Sachin Rawat (53 not out), and Abhay Negi (57 not out) battled through fifties for Uttarakhand, preventing Karnataka from winning outright.

Ranji Trophy Final Update:

There will be Karnataka vs jammu and kashmir in ranji trophy final 😶‍🌫️ pic.twitter.com/E5qbRi9nRa

— D E V A (@rajkriishna) February 19, 2026

However, after defeating Bengal by six wickets in Kalyani, Jammu & Kashmir advanced to their first-ever final. Auqib Nabi spearheaded J&K's comeback after Bengal was bowled out for a pitiful 99 after giving up a 26-run advantage. Vanshaj Sharma then took them home with an undefeated 43. All four of Karnataka's meetings with J&K have ended in victory; their most recent encounter took place in Chennai in 2022.

Karnataka won the Ranji, Irani, and Vijay Hazare trophies in the 2014–15 season after their triumph in the 2013–14 campaign. With 912 runs, Robin Uthappa topped the run table, and Vinay and Shardul Thakur of Mumbai shared the most wickets taken, with 48. Only four players from that era of domination remain in the current Karnataka team: KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal, and Shreyas Gopal. However, after making it to the final for the first time in 60 years, Jammu and Kashmir will aim for their first Ranji trophy.

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