Hubli, February 25: Jammu and Kashmir have seized control of the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 final against Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground. By the end of the second day’s play, the visitors had compiled a formidable 527 for 6, setting a daunting challenge for the hosts.
Electing to bat after winning the toss, J&K endured an early setback, losing Kamran Iqbal for 6 at 18. But Shubham Pundir steadied the innings with a crucial 139-run stand for the second wicket alongside Yawar Hasan, who departed for 88 off 13 boundaries.
Captain Paras Dogra entered but retired hurt on 9 on day one. Pundir then anchored with Abdul Samad (61) for 124 runs, pushing the score past 300 before falling for 121 on day two, featuring 12 fours and 2 sixes.
Dogra resumed aggressively, forging 110 with Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70 off 9 fours). He added 54 more with Sahil Lotra before holing out for 70 (8 fours). Lotra (57 off 97 balls, 7 fours) and Abid Mushtaq (20, 2 fours) remained unbeaten, their 56-run partnership intact at stumps.
Karnataka’s Prasasidd Krishna claimed 3 wickets, with Vidyadhar Patil, Suyash Gopal, and Shikhar Shetty taking one each. J&K will aim to pile on more runs on day three to bury Karnataka under pressure.
Jammu & Kashmir XI: Kamran Iqbal, Yawar Hasan, Shubham Pundir, Paras Dogra (c), Abdul Samad, Kanhaiya Wadhawan (wk), Abid Mushtaq, Aquib Nabi Dar, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Sahil Lotra, Sunil Kumar.
Karnataka XI: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal (c), Karun Nair, Smaran Ravichandran, Suyash Gopal, Krithik Krishna (wk), Vidyadhar Patil, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Shikhar Shetty, Prasidd Krishna.