From B D Narayankar
Hubballi, Feb 23 (.) The quiet hero story is often the one that decides championships — but rarely gets the loudest applause before the trophy is lifted.
As the final of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 begins at the intense and historic setting of the KSCA Hubballi Cricket Ground, the spotlight naturally falls on stars, records, and legacy. But beneath the noise of expectations, the most dangerous match-winning narrative is already taking shape.
On one side stands the royalty of domestic cricket, Karnataka cricket team — an eight-time champion side built on experience, temperament, and big-match awareness. Their batting lineup carries serious firepower and international pedigree.
The class and composure of players like KL Rahul provide stability at the top, while experienced domestic champions such as Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair bring proven red-ball dominance.
Karnataka’s season has also been powered by breakout domestic sensation Smaran Ravichandran, who has piled up runs at an extraordinary average, making him one of the tournament’s most feared batsmen. With allround impact from Shreyas Gopal, Karnataka’s formula is simple — build totals, control sessions, and finish games ruthlessly.
But cricket, especially in long-format finals, is rarely decided by the loudest names. It is decided by players who quietly hold matches together when momentum starts shifting.
For Jammu and Kashmir cricket team, this final is not just a championship match — it is history in motion. Their first-ever Ranji Trophy final appearance has already become one of the most inspiring stories of the season. Their campaign has been built around collective fighting spirit rather than reliance on one superstar.
The quiet hero of this story has been allrounder Auqib Nabi. With over 50 wickets in the tournament and crucial lower-order contributions with the bat, he has operated like the team’s pressure-break specialist. When partnerships started growing, he delivered breakthroughs. When batting collapses threatened, he stabilised innings.
Jammu and Kashmir’s batting resistance has also come from experienced campaign leaders like Paras Dogra, whose calm presence in pressure situations has guided younger players. Top-order support from Shubham Khajuria and Qamran Iqbal has provided early momentum, while middle-order stability from Abdul Samad and Abid Mushtaq has kept the scoreboard moving when pressure builds.
Karnataka will lean on their traditional championship blueprint. The bowling attack led by pace options like Prasidh Krishna, Vidwath Kaverappa, and support from experienced campaigners ensures they can attack in waves. Spin control from Shreyas Gopal often becomes decisive once the pitch begins breaking down.
The pitch at KSCA Hubballi is expected to become a true Test match character. Early days will favour fast bowlers with bounce and movement, while batters who show patience will dominate scoring phases. By days three and four, spinners will start controlling the game as cracks appear on the surface.
Weather conditions remain perfect for long-format cricket drama, with clear skies and temperatures around 31–33°C, meaning skill, patience, and mental endurance will likely decide the championship.
In the end, this final is not just about who lifts the trophy. It is about which story captures cricket’s imagination. Karnataka want to continue their legacy of dominance. Jammu and Kashmir want to create history and become champions for the first time.
And somewhere in the long, quiet sessions of this final, the real hero will emerge — not with loud celebrations, but with decisive moments that quietly tilt the balance of a championship battle. Because in Ranji Trophy finals, legends are often made by players who let their performances speak louder than their names.
Teams: Karnataka: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Karun Nair, Smaran Ravichandran, Kruthik Krishna, Shreyas Gopal, Vidyadhar Patil, Vidwath Kaverappa, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Prasidh Krishna, Shubhang Hegde, Nikin Jose, Manish Pandey
Jammu & Kashmir: Shubham Khajuria, Qamran Iqbal, Shubham Pundir, Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Abid Mushtaq, Auqib Nabi, Yudvir Singh, Sunil Kumar, Vanshaj Sharma, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Abdul Samad, Vivrant Sharma
. . ARN