Karnataka’s dominance this season has been comprehensive. Despite a slow start against Saurashtra, they quickly established themselves as the team to beat, brushing aside strong sides like Mumbai and Uttarakhand with authority. Their formidable batting lineup has been the cornerstone of their success, with KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Devdutt Padikkal and Ravichandran Smaran delivering heavily. Padikkal has also excelled as captain after taking over from Mayank Agarwal, ensuring the team maintained its momentum.
Their strength, however, extends beyond batting. The bowling unit, led by India pacer Prasidh Krishna, has consistently delivered, while all-rounder Shreyas Gopal has been invaluable with both bat and ball. His ability to influence matches in crucial moments has made Karnataka an even more complete side.
Jammu and Kashmir, meanwhile, have relied on their disciplined bowling, spearheaded by Auqib Nabi, whose 55 wickets have powered their historic run. Their victories over Bengal and Madhya Pradesh underline their ability to compete under pressure. Veteran captain Paras Dogra and coach Ajay Sharma will play key roles in keeping the team focused on the big occasion.
However, injury concerns to key players like Shubham Khajuria and Vanshraj Sharma could pose challenges. While Karnataka’s experience and depth give them a clear edge, Jammu and Kashmir will hope their fearless approach can help them script one of the greatest upsets in Ranji Trophy history.
