Karnataka Enter Ranji Trophy Final After 11 Years

Lucknow, Feb 2026 : The Karnataka cricket team, led by Devdutt Padikkal, has finally broken an 11-year drought by securing a spot in the Ranji Trophy final for the first time since the 2014–15 season. Their qualification was sealed after they gained a crucial first-innings lead against Uttarakhand in the semifinal held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The eight-time Ranji Trophy champions will now face Jammu and Kashmir, who scripted history by entering their first-ever final after defeating Bengal in the other semifinal. While the BCCI has not yet officially declared the venue for the title clash, strong indications suggest that KSCA Rajnagar Stadium in Hubli is the frontrunner. A JKCA official informed IANS that Hubli is most likely to host the historic final, pending formal confirmation.

Karnataka’s Dominant First Innings

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Karnataka delivered an extraordinary performance, batting for 194.4 overs and amassing a monumental 736 runs in their first innings. Captain Padikkal led from the front with a brilliant double century, scoring 232 runs off 330 deliveries and anchoring the innings with remarkable grit.

Senior batter K. L. Rahul continued his excellent run of form, contributing a fluent 141. Rising talent Smaran Ravichandran showcased maturity beyond his years, adding a well-crafted 135 that further strengthened Karnataka’s grip on the match.

Bowlers Seal the Advantage

Karnataka’s bowlers reinforced the team’s dominance by bundling out Uttarakhand for 233 runs in 88.5 overs. This massive 503-run lead put Karnataka firmly on the path to the final. Vidyadhar Patil and Vijaykumar Vyashak claimed three wickets each, while Shreyas Gopal added two crucial breakthroughs.

In the second innings, Karnataka piled on another 323 runs, with Ravichandran smashing 127 and Rahul adding an unbeaten 86. Kruthik Krishna also chipped in with a valuable 52, pushing the target for Uttarakhand to an improbable 827.

Match Ends in a Draw, Karnataka Advance

On the final day, chasing the enormous target, Uttarakhand reached 260/6 in 62 overs before both captains agreed to call off the match. Abhay Negi (57*) and Aditya Rawat (53*) showed resilience, but the result had already been sealed through Karnataka’s massive first-innings lead. In the second innings, Gopal took three wickets, while Prasidh and Vijaykumar added two and one respectively.

Brief Scores

Karnataka: 736 & 323 (Smaran Ravichandran 127, KL Rahul 86*, Kruthik Krishna 52; Mayank Mishra 4–69)
Uttarakhand: 233 & 260/6 in 62 overs (Abhay Negi 57*, Aditya Rawat 53*)

Team Maverick.