KL Rahul had a disappointing outing with the bat in the first innings of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final between Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir at the KSCA Stadium in Hubli. The right-handed batsman could only manage to score 13 runs off 39 balls before falling victim to Auqib Nabi’s incisive bowling.
The dismissal came in the 12th over of Karnataka’s innings when Nabi produced a good-length delivery that swung in late. Rahul, caught in two minds whether to play or leave the ball, ended up edging it to wicketkeeper Kanhaiya Wadhawan. Despite initial doubts, the on-field umpire’s decision was overturned after a review showed a faint outside edge off Rahul’s bat.
Interestingly, it was Nabi who dismissed Rahul, who had earlier taken a catch to dismiss Wadhawan in the first innings. Nabi has been in fine form throughout the Ranji Trophy season, currently holding the second-highest wicket tally with 57 scalps. His performances earned him a lucrative deal with the Delhi Capitals in the upcoming IPL season, where he will play alongside KL Rahul.
In a further blow to Karnataka, skipper Devdutt Padikkal also fell cheaply, scoring just 11 runs off 10 balls before being dismissed by Sunil Kumar. At the time of writing, Karnataka were 56/2 in their first innings with Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair at the crease.
Jammu & Kashmir had earlier set a formidable total of 584 in their first innings, led by Shubham Singh Pundir’s century. Prasidh Krishna starred with the ball, taking 5/98 to disrupt Karnataka’s batting lineup.
As Karnataka aims for their ninth Ranji Trophy title, Jammu & Kashmir are eyeing their maiden triumph in the prestigious tournament. Fans can follow the live scores and updates of the final to see which team emerges victorious.
In conclusion, KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal’s early dismissals have put Karnataka on the back foot in the final, with Jammu & Kashmir asserting their dominance. The match promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams vie for the coveted Ranji Trophy title.
