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The final match of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season between Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka is going on in Hubli. In this match being played at KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground, 3 days have been played but the first innings of both the teams has not been completed yet. Jammu and Kashmir team was all out after scoring 584 runs in its first innings. In response, Karnataka has scored 220 runs at the loss of 5 wickets till stumps on the third day (26 February). It is still 364 runs behind Jammu and Kashmir’s score.

Mayank Agarwal has single-handedly maintained the lead. Mayank is playing after scoring 130 runs in 207 balls. Along with him at the crease is wicketkeeper batsman Kritik Krishna, who has scored 27 runs. There are 2 days of play left in this match but the result does not seem to be coming. Let us know which team will become the champion if the title match is drawn.

Whose head will be crowned?

As per Ranji Trophy rules, if the final match is drawn then the team gaining lead in the first innings will be declared the winner. Jammu and Kashmir team is far ahead in the competition and can win the title by gaining the lead. On the other hand, Karnataka also has opportunities. If this team crosses the first innings score of Jammu and Kashmir then it will become the winner.

Apart from this, if the Karnataka team is not successful in taking the lead but is not all out till the end of the last day’s play, then it will be declared the winner. This is because in the group stage it had more points than Jammu and Kashmir. If rain interrupts the match and Karnataka’s first innings is not completed, it will still be declared the winner.

What were the rules before?

Earlier in Ranji Trophy, if for some reason the first innings of both the teams could not be completed, then an extra day was given to complete the first innings. That means the contest would drag on till the sixth day. Something similar was seen in the final of the 1981-82 Ranji Trophy. Then there was a clash between Karnataka and Delhi. Even after five days of play, no team was able to take the lead on the basis of first innings. After this the match went into the sixth day, where Karnataka was defeated.