The Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final will be played between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir in Hubballi from February 24. The match will take place at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground.
The summit clash was earlier expected to be held in Bengaluru. However, the venue has now been shifted from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The move comes after the Chinnaswamy Stadium was found not fully ready due to a function. The ground had also faced criticism over fitness issues following a recent stampede incident.
The BCCI’s Centre of Excellence grounds were also not in ideal condition to host a five-day final. As a result, Hubballi has been chosen for the big match.
Interestingly, Chinnaswamy has still been cleared to host IPL 2026 games for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. But for this high-stakes domestic final, the KSCA has opted for Hubballi instead.
Karnataka entered the final after drawing with Uttarakhand in the semifinal. They progressed because of their crucial first-innings lead.
Jammu and Kashmir scripted history by reaching their first-ever Ranji Trophy final. They defeated Bengal by six wickets in Kalyani to seal their spot.
“Jammu & Kashmir earned their first-ever final berth Wednesday, chasing down Bengal by six wickets in Kalyani for an outright win.”
Karnataka come into the final with rich history. They have played 15 Ranji finals and won the title eight times.
They also hold a strong 4-0 head-to-head record against Jammu and Kashmir in the tournament’s history. That gives them a clear edge on paper.
Earlier this season, Karnataka also won a league match at the Hubballi venue. They beat Chandigarh by 185 runs, showing they are comfortable at this ground.
Jammu and Kashmir, however, will be high on confidence after their historic semifinal win. The team has already shown they can handle pressure in big matches.
The J&K players travelled from Kolkata to Bengaluru on February 19. They are expected to proceed to Hubballi on Friday ahead of the final.
For Karnataka, this is another chance to add to their proud Ranji legacy. For Jammu and Kashmir, it is a moment to dream big and chase history.
Hubballi is now set to witness one of the most exciting domestic finals in recent years.