The 2025–26 Ranji Trophy marked a landmark moment in Indian domestic cricket as Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) won their first-ever Ranji Trophy title after 67 years of participation. J&K clinched the championship by securing a first-innings lead against Karnataka in a drawn final, overcoming one of India’s strongest domestic sides.
Key contributors included Auqib Nabi, who continued his outstanding season with another five-wicket haul, Shubham Pundir with a vital first-innings century, and Qamran Iqbal and Sahil Lotra, whose centuries in the second innings sealed J&K’s dominance. Veteran captain Parvez Rasool called the win the realization of a decades-long dream.
The achievement gains further context against the rich legacy of the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier domestic red-ball tournament since 1934–35, organized by the BCCI and historically dominated by Mumbai (42 titles). J&K’s win stands as a turning point, reinforcing that sustained investment, belief, and grassroots development can transform even long-time underdogs into champions.
