Asif Iqbal
Srinagar, Feb 25 (GNS):
Jammu and Kashmir stamped their authority on the Ranji Trophy Elite 2025–26 final, ending Day 2 in a commanding position at 527/6 against Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, as a fiery on-field exchange added drama to an otherwise dominant batting display.
Resuming from a solid overnight score of 284/2, Jammu and Kashmir cricket team methodically built on their platform, converting it into a massive first-innings total through composure, depth, and resilience.
Karnataka, led by skipper Devdutt Padikkal, looked to claw back into the contest with disciplined bowling early on Day 2. Their efforts bore fruit in the 98th over when overnight centurion Shubham Pundir departed for a splendid 121, caught at mid-wicket off Vidyadhar Patil. His innings, laced with 12 fours and two sixes, had firmly set the tone for J&K’s dominance.
Moments later, Abdul Samad’s brisk knock of 61 ended when he fell to Prasidh Krishna, briefly raising Karnataka’s hopes with J&K four down but already well past 300.
Captain Paras Dogra, who had retired hurt on Day 1 after taking blows to the body, showed grit by returning to the crease. Partnering wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Dogra steadied the innings with a crucial stand that carried J&K beyond 350. Wadhawan counter-attacked smartly, making the most of dropped chances and a missed stumping before eventually perishing to a juggling slip catch after a valuable 70.
Dogra continued to anchor the innings before being deceived by a well-flighted googly from Shreyas Gopal just ahead of the tea interval.
The lower order then ensured Karnataka had no respite. Sahil Lotra compiled a composed 57 off 93 balls, striking seven boundaries, while Abid Mushtaq remained unbeaten on 20. Their unbroken 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket propelled J&K past the 500-run milestone.
Tempers flared during the second session when Dogra was involved in a heated exchange with Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh following a boundary. Senior batter Mayank Agarwal intervened promptly, while Padikkal held discussions with the umpires to defuse the situation. Though play continued without further incident, the flashpoint became a major talking point of the day.
Bad light and adverse weather curtailed the final session, with play called off more than an hour early as conditions failed to improve after a brief stoppage.
At stumps on Day 2, Jammu and Kashmir, featuring in their first Ranji Trophy final in over six decades, stand firmly in control. Karnataka, eight-time champions, now face a daunting challenge to counter the mammoth first-innings total and keep their title hopes alive. (GNS)
