Jammu and Kashmir scripted history on Saturday by winning their first-ever Ranji Trophy title, edging past eight-time champions Karnataka on the basis of a massive first innings lead in the 2025-26 final at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground.

The summit clash ended in a draw on Day 5, but J&K’s dominance with the bat in the first innings proved decisive as they lifted the trophy for the first time since making their Ranji debut in the 1959-60 season.

Karnataka were bowled out for 293 in their first innings in response to J&K’s imposing 584. In their second innings, J&K declared at 342/4, effectively shutting the door on any slim hopes for Karnataka and sealing the title via the first innings advantage.

Batting depth powers J&K to commanding position

Shubham Pundir set the tone with a crucial 121 in the first innings, guiding J&K to a formidable total of 584. His effort earned him the Player of the Match award.

Sahil Lotra delivered an all-round performance with the bat, scoring 72 in the first innings and following it up with an unbeaten century in the second innings — his maiden first-class hundred. Qamran Iqbal also played a standout knock, smashing 160 in the second innings to stretch the lead beyond Karnataka’s reach.

Captain Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Yawer Hassan and Kanhaiya Wadhawan contributed valuable half-centuries, underlining the team’s collective batting strength.

By Lunch on Day 5, J&K had extended their lead to 576 runs, and eventually crossed the 600-run mark before Dogra declared the innings at 342/4 in 113 overs.

Bowlers back up batting brilliance

With the ball, pace spearhead Auqib Nabi once again led from the front, claiming a five-wicket haul in the final. He finished the season with 60 wickets in 10 matches at an impressive average of 12.56, including seven five-wicket hauls, and was named Player of the Series.

Sunil Kumar and Yudhvir Singh picked up two wickets each in the final, while Abid Mushtaq maintained tight lines to support the attack.

A landmark moment for Jammu and Kashmir cricket

This triumph marks the end of a 67-year wait for Jammu and Kashmir, who had long struggled in India’s premier domestic competition. Their maiden Ranji Trophy title represents a significant milestone and signals their emergence as a competitive force in domestic cricket.

As celebrations unfolded in Hubli, J&K players lifted the trophy to cap off a season that will be remembered as a breakthrough campaign in the state’s cricketing history.

Already through to the semi-finals, England cricket team continued their dominant run in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a four-wicket win over New Zealand national cricket team in Colombo on Friday.

The victory ensured England completed the Super 8 phase with three wins in three matches, finishing on six points and a net run rate of +1.096 in Group 2.

Super 8 Group 2 points table scenario

With this result, England remain at the top of Group 2 with a flawless record. New Zealand are placed second with three points. Pakistan are third with one point and must secure a convincing win against already-eliminated Sri Lanka national cricket team on Saturday to overtake New Zealand and book a place in the semi-finals.

New Zealand’s qualification now depends on Sri Lanka defeating Pakistan in the final Group 2 fixture. A Pakistan win would see them move ahead of New Zealand on points and claim the second semi-final spot from the group.

How the match unfolded

After opting to bat, New Zealand found several batters getting starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Glenn Phillips top-scored with 39, while Tim Seifert made 35. Finn Allen contributed 29 and Mark Chapman added 15, but none managed to anchor the innings as New Zealand finished at 159 for 7 in their 20 overs.

For England, Will Jacks (2/23), Adil Rashid (2/28) and Rehan Ahmed (2/28) shared the bulk of the wickets, with Liam Dawson chipping in with one scalp.

In response, England’s chase was not entirely smooth, but steady contributions across the batting order helped them reach the target in 19.3 overs. Tom Banton scored 33, while Will Jacks remained unbeaten on 32. Captain Harry Brook added 26, Sam Curran made 24, and Rehan Ahmed finished unbeaten on 19 to seal the win.

Rachin Ravindra was the standout bowler for New Zealand with figures of 3/19, but his effort was not enough to prevent England from maintaining their unbeaten run in the Super 8 stage.Brief scores
New Zealand: 159/7 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 39, Tim Seifert 35; Will Jacks 2/23)
England: 161/6 in 19.3 overs (Will Jacks 32*; Rachin Ravindra 3/19)

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away on Friday after battling stage four cancer. He was receiving treatment at Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where his health deteriorated earlier this week.

Rinku had travelled to see his father ahead of India’s T20 World Cup match against Zimbabwe. Despite medical efforts, Khanchand Singh’s condition did not improve and he was placed on ventilator support. The cricketer later rejoined the squad in time for the fixture but was not included in the playing XI, with Sanju Samson taking his place. Rinku featured in the match as a substitute fielder.

A pillar of support in Rinku’s journey

Khanchand Singh played a significant role in his son’s cricketing career. Working as an LPG cylinder deliveryman in Aligarh, he ensured that financial challenges did not hinder Rinku’s ambitions in the sport. His support over the years was seen as instrumental in shaping the batter’s rise to the Indian team.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh expressed condolences in a post on X, saying he was pained to learn of the demise and extended prayers to the family. He acknowledged the difficult time for Rinku, who continues to fulfil his national duties during the tournament.

Mixed outing in the tournament

Rinku’s T20 World Cup campaign has been underwhelming so far. He has scored 24 runs across five innings and has struggled to convert starts into significant contributions. Limited opportunities at the crease and the absence of big scores resulted in Samson being preferred in the lineup.

India are set to travel to Kolkata for their final Super 8 clash against West Indies. The encounter is effectively a virtual quarterfinal, with the winner securing a place in the semifinals. India head into the match after a win over Zimbabwe, while West Indies are coming off a heavy defeat to South Africa.