Hubballi, Feb 23: Jammu and Kashmir’s entry into their maiden Ranji Trophy final is a stirring tale of grit and determination. However, to lift the title, the underdogs will need to produce something extraordinary against eight-time champions Karnataka in the five-day summit clash starting Monday.
Karnataka enter the final as firm favourites — not merely because of their storied legacy, but due to a season marked by resilience and consistency despite injuries and challenging conditions.
After a stuttering start against Saurashtra in Rajkot, where they conceded a narrow first-innings lead, Karnataka bounced back strongly. They brushed aside formidable opponents such as Mumbai and tricky newcomers Uttarakhand with authority, reflecting the growing confidence within the squad.
At the heart of their dominance has been a formidable batting line-up featuring KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Devdutt Padikkal and Ravichandran Smaran.
Rahul (457 runs in 3 matches at 91.40), Karun (699 runs in 8 matches at 63.54), Devdutt (532 runs in 5 matches at 66.50) and Smaran (950 runs in 8 matches) have delivered consistently throughout the campaign.
Their collective form has offset a relatively modest season for Mayank Agarwal, who stepped down from captaincy, with Devdutt taking over the reins. The left-hander has led impressively, contributing both with the bat and sharp tactical decisions.
Yet, Karnataka’s strength is not limited to batting. Their varied bowling attack is spearheaded by India pacer Prasidh Krishna, with strong support from Vidwath Kaverappa, Vidyadhar Patil, Vysakh Vijayakumar, Shikhar Shetty and Mohsin Khan.
All-rounder Shreyas Gopal has been particularly influential, claiming 46 wickets and scoring 442 runs at an average of 45. His all-round contributions have often rescued Karnataka from tight situations this season.
Former Karnataka skipper R. Vinay Kumar had noted that Shreyas’ ability to support both frontline batters and bowlers has significantly strengthened the side across conditions.
Karnataka also bring invaluable big-match experience. Rahul, Karun, Shreyas and Mayank were part of the squad that secured back-to-back Ranji titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Their experience could prove decisive in high-pressure moments.
However, Jammu and Kashmir have shown they cannot be underestimated. Having defeated strong teams such as Bengal and Madhya Pradesh en route to the final, they arrive with belief and momentum.
Their bowling attack, led by pacer Auqib Nabi — who has taken 55 wickets this season — will be crucial, especially on a pitch expected to assist seamers early on.
Captain Paras Dogra, 41, along with head coach Ajay Sharma, will play a key role in guiding the relatively inexperienced side through the pressures of a historic final as they attempt to thwart Karnataka’s bid for a ninth Ranji crown.
