Jammu and Kashmir scripted one of the most inspiring chapters in Indian domestic cricket by clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy title on Saturday, February 28. The historic triumph came against the eight-time champions, the Karnataka cricket team, and fans across India celebrated what many described as a once-in-a-lifetime achievement.
For supporters, the victory felt deeply personal. Most of the players in the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team squad are uncapped at the international level and hail from a region that has endured decades of hardship and instability. Their remarkable run in India’s most prestigious domestic competition, therefore, carried an emotional weight far beyond the cricket field.
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Led by captain Paras Dogra, Jammu and Kashmir were playing their first-ever Ranji Trophy final. They laid the foundation for victory with a commanding performance in the first innings at the KSCA Stadium. Posting a massive total of 584, the visitors immediately seized control of the contest.
Their bowlers then delivered a disciplined effort to restrict Karnataka and secure a crucial 291-run first-innings lead. In the Ranji Trophy final format, that advantage proved decisive as the match eventually ended in a draw, handing Jammu and Kashmir the title.
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On the final day, the team further strengthened its dominance. Resuming at 186 for four, openers Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra stitched together a remarkable unbeaten partnership. Iqbal finished on 160 not out, while Lotra remained unbeaten on 101, guiding the team to 342 for four and extending their overall lead to a staggering 633 runs.
Such a heartwarming result in the Ranji Trophy final. This is the moment Jammu & Kashmir must have dreamt of for so long. And to do it against the might of Karnataka is even more special.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 28, 2026
There is such a romance in this Jammu & Kashmir Ranji Trophy victory! A land that has been besmirched with violence, players who have lived in the shadows for far too long, and coaching staff that has led them to history!💛 What beautiful stories. Long Live J&K and Indian cricket
— Gaurav Nandan Tripathi | गौरव नंदन त्रिपाठी (@Cric_Beyond_Ent) February 28, 2026
What an incredible moment in Jammu & Kashmir’s cricket history!
This team has been consistently performing well for the past few seasons, but somehow they couldn’t make it to the last-four stage.
This year odds were against them as they faced the star-studded Karnataka team in…— Satish Acharya (@satishacharya) February 28, 2026
What a moment for Indian cricket, this Jammu & Kashmir triumph.
This season will be spoken of again and again over the years.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) February 28, 2026
Years of dreams ✨
Years of belief 💪
History made today 🏆Congratulations on the maiden Ranji Trophy, Jammu & Kashmir 🥳 #WhistlePodu #RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/x3Zv8TqTVD
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) February 28, 2026
Jammu & Kashmir crowned the Ranji Trophy champions for the first time ever. A monumental moment for the state and domestic cricket!! Well done team, truly well deserved👏
— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 28, 2026
Jammu & Kashmir, you beauty.
The story for the ages.
So so happy for what our boys have achieved.
Indian cricket is in a safe and happy place 😍😇— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 28, 2026
This Ranji title of Jammu & Kashmir will go down as one of the greatest feats ever in Indian cricket.
They beat MP in their home in the QF
Beat Bengal in their home in the SF
Decimated Karnataka in Hubballi, in the finals
All this without a single capped player #RanjiTrophy🫡
— Ramachandra.M| ರಾಮಚಂದ್ರ.ಎಮ್ (@nanuramu) February 28, 2026
Earlier in the match, pacer Auqib Nabi delivered a standout performance with his seventh five-wicket haul of the season, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. Captain Dogra also achieved a personal milestone, crossing 10,000 runs in the competition. When both captains shook hands at 2:10 pm, it confirmed a historic moment—Jammu and Kashmir had finally lifted the Ranji Trophy after 67 years. It is a triumph that will likely be remembered as a landmark moment in Indian domestic cricket.
