Ranji Trophy history was created at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on February 28 as the Jammu & Kashmir cricket team clinched their maiden title, defeating the Karnataka cricket team on the basis of a massive first-innings lead. In emotional scenes after the match, players lifted Mithun Manhas on their shoulders, acknowledging the significant role he played in the teamโs remarkable transformation.
Resuming the final day at 186/4 in their second innings, J&K were already in a commanding position with a huge lead in hand. The responsibility rested on Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra, who ensured there would be no comeback for Karnataka. The pair batted with patience and authority, steadily building a partnership that completely drained the hosts of any remaining hope.
Iqbal continued his superb form to remain unbeaten on 160, while Lotra brought up a brilliant century, finishing on 101 not out. Their unbroken 197-run stand for the fifth wicket took J&K to 342/4 before the team declared, stretching their overall lead to an unassailable 633 runs. With Karnataka unable to overturn the deficit, the match ended in a draw โ handing J&K the Ranji Trophy title thanks to their dominant first-innings advantage.
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As celebrations erupted, players gathered around Manhas and lifted him in joy, a tribute to the long-term vision he helped establish for cricket in the region. Born in Jammu, Manhas shifted his domestic cricket base from Delhi to J&K in 2015 before retiring the following year. Later, he served on a committee appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to restructure and guide the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association.
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐
BCCI President Mr. Mithun Manhas (@MithunManhas) & BCCI Hon. Secretary Mr. Devajit Saikia (@lonsaikia) present the coveted Ranji Trophy to captain Paras Dogra as Jammu & Kashmir claim their maiden title. ๐#RanjiTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/vr0Ag2Quxr
โ BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 28, 2026
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The rise of Jammu and Kashmir Cricket. Credit goes to Jay Shah and Mithun Manhas Bhaiya. Very good story and beautiful video. pic.twitter.com/Ru7vKsuqUC
โ Farrago Abdullah Parody (@abdullah_0mar) February 27, 2026
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Former administrator Anil Gupta credited Manhasโ vision for the teamโs rise. According to him, major structural changes were introduced, including appointing an experienced external coach and creating red-soil practice wickets in Jammu to better prepare players for conditions across India.
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Those decisions gradually strengthened the squad and improved performances in domestic competitions. In the final, Shubham Pundir was named Player of the Match for his crucial 121 in the first innings, while pacer Auqib Nabi earned Player of the Tournament honours after finishing as the seasonโs leading wicket-taker with an impressive haul of 60 wickets.
For J&K, the victory represents more than just a title โ it marks a defining moment that could reshape the regionโs future in Indian cricket.
