The dramatic flashpoint involving Paras Dogra during the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Final has now led to disciplinary action, with the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team captain fined 50 per cent of his match fee for headbutting KV Aneesh. The incident, which occurred during a tense Day 2 session in Hubballi, briefly diverted attention from cricketing action to questions of on-field discipline. According to reports, the punishment followed one of the most heated moments witnessed in recent domestic cricket finals.
The altercation unfolded in the 101st over of Jammu and Kashmir’s first innings. Dogra was batting alongside Kanhaiya Wadhawan as the visitors looked to consolidate their position in the match. After edging a delivery from Prasidh Krishna for a boundary, Dogra became involved in a verbal exchange with Aneesh, who was fielding at forward short leg for the Karnataka cricket team.
The situation escalated quickly when Dogra charged towards the substitute fielder and appeared to make contact with a helmeted headbutt. Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal immediately stepped in to separate the two players as tensions rose on the field.
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Match officials were forced to intervene swiftly to prevent the situation from spiralling further. While Dogra reportedly apologised after the over, Aneesh was not inclined to accept it at the time. The confrontation also triggered further verbal exchanges, with senior Karnataka players like KL Rahul and Agarwal getting involved in its aftermath.
🚨FINED🚨
Paras Dogra, the 41-year-old Jammu and Kashmir skipper, is set to be fined 50% of his match fee for headbutting Karnataka’s KV Aneesh on Day 2 of the #RanjiTrophyFinal
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/Gw9l8zp7Ha
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 25, 2026
The tension did not completely settle there. Soon after, another brief clash occurred when Karnataka pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar and Wadhawan came face-to-face following contact while completing a run. The back-to-back confrontations highlighted just how intense the contest had become as both sides fought hard in the title clash.
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What made the episode particularly surprising was Dogra’s stature in Indian domestic cricket. The 41-year-old veteran recently crossed the 10,000-run milestone in Ranji Trophy history, underlining his longevity and influence in the competition.
While the fine serves as an immediate punishment, the incident has reignited conversations around player conduct in high-pressure matches. Finals are naturally intense, but maintaining discipline remains crucial—especially in a prestigious tournament like the Ranji Trophy.
