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| On brink of glory: J&K team tightens grip on Ranji final as CM Omar heads to Hubli | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 27: As Jammu and Kashmir stand on the cusp of creating history in the Ranji Trophy 2026 final, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has decided to witness the moment from the stands.
The Chief Minister announced that he is travelling to Hubli to cheer the team in what could be a defining chapter in J&K’s cricketing journey.
“On our way to Hubli to cheer the J&K cricket team as they play the final of the Ranji Trophy. They’ve already made lakhs of people so very proud by reaching the final. I’m really looking forward to spending the day tomorrow in the stands cheering them on,” Omar posted on social media.
On the field, the team tightened its grip on the summit clash of the Ranji Trophy, stretching their overall lead to a massive 477 runs against Karnataka at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Friday.
After piling up a commanding 584 in the first innings, Jammu and Kashmir bowled out Karnataka for 293 on Day 4, securing a dominant 291-run first-innings lead. By stumps, they had advanced to 186 for four in their second innings, firmly dictating terms heading into the final day.
The morning session belonged to pace spearhead Auqib Nabi Dar, who delivered yet another match-defining performance. The right-arm seamer returned impressive figures of 5 for 54, registering his seventh five-wicket haul of the season and taking his tally to 60 wickets. His sharp seam bowling ripped through Karnataka’s middle order and cleaned up the tail, preventing the hosts from narrowing the deficit.
Sunil Kumar (2/51) and Yudhvir Singh Charak (2/55) provided crucial support, striking at regular intervals to keep Karnataka under constant pressure. The innings ended at 293 wh CM Omar Abdullah announced that he is travelling to Hubli to cheer the team in what could be a defining chapter in J&K’s cricketing journey.
I’m really looking forward to spending the day tomorrow in the stands cheering J&K cricket team.
On the field, the team tightened its grip on the summit clash of the Ranji Trophy, stretching their overall lead to a massive 477 runs against Karnataka.
Under Ranji Trophy final regulations, an outright win determines the champion. In case of a draw, the team with the first-innings lead claims the title.
Karnataka’s resistance was largely carried by skipper Mayank Agarwal, who produced a gritty 160 off 266 deliveries, laced with 21 boundaries. Despite his determined effort, the lack of substantial support from the other end left the southern side well short of parity.
With a formidable lead in hand, J&K approached their second innings cautiously. Early blows reduced them to 11 for two, with Yawer Hassan and Shubham Pundir departing cheaply. Paras Dogra managed 16 before falling to Prasidh Krishna, while Abdul Samad added a composed 32 off 70 balls before being dismissed by Shreyas Gopal.
However, opener Qamran Iqbal emerged as the backbone of the innings. Mixing patience with controlled aggression, he crafted a fluent unbeaten 94 off 160 balls, striking 11 fours and a six. His assured knock blunted Karnataka’s hopes of a comeback and steadily extended J&K’s dominance. Sahil Lotra remained unbeaten on 16 at the close of play as the visitors ended the day firmly in control.
With just one day left, Karnataka face an uphill task — either chase a mammoth fourth-innings target or bundle J&K out swiftly to give themselves a fighting chance.
Under Ranji Trophy final regulations, an outright win determines the champion. In case of a draw, the team with the first-innings lead claims the title. Having already secured a 291-run advantage on that front, Jammu and Kashmir hold a decisive upper hand.
Now, only a composed final-day effort separates the team from what would be a landmark triumph in the history of cricket in Jammu and Kashmir. As the final chapter unfolds in Hubli, momentum — and belief — remain firmly with the northern side. |
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