Karnataka entered the Ranji Trophy final after an 11-year gap, progressing based on a decisive first-innings lead following their drawn semifinal against Uttarakhand on Thursday.
The final will be held in Hubballi from February 24, where Karnataka will face Jammu and Kashmir in the summit clash.
Starting the fifth and final day at 299 for six, Karnataka lost their remaining four wickets in quick succession and were bowled out for 323. That took their overall lead to 826 runs, effectively shutting Uttarakhand out of contention despite the match ending without an outright result.
Uttarakhand showed resistance in their second innings through half-centuries from Avneesh Sudha (66), Sachin Rawat (53 not out) and Abhay Negi (57 not out). Karnataka had put themselves in a strong position when they reduced Uttarakhand to 156 for six midway through the second session, raising the possibility of forcing a result.
However, Negi and Rawat combined to frustrate the bowling attack, adding 104 runs for the seventh wicket. Their partnership ensured Uttarakhand avoided defeat. With time running out and Karnataka’s place in the final secure owing to the first-innings advantage, the captains agreed to shake hands approximately 30 minutes after tea. Uttarakhand finished at 260 for six in their second innings.
For Karnataka, the qualification marks a return to the final after more than a decade. The team last won the Ranji Trophy in the 2014-15 season under the leadership of R Vinay Kumar, capping a highly successful phase in the state’s domestic cricket history.
During the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, Karnataka completed an impressive run in domestic competitions. After winning the Ranji Trophy in 2013-14, they went on to secure the Ranji, Irani and Vijay Hazare titles in 2014-15 as well. In doing so, they became only the second domestic side after Mumbai to win all three major domestic trophies twice in successive seasons.
In 2014-15, Robin Uthappa topped the batting charts with 912 runs, while Vinay Kumar and Mumbai’s Shardul Thakur finished as joint-leading wicket-takers with 48 wickets each. That period featured several players who have since gone on to represent India across formats.
Among the current Karnataka squad, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal are the only players who were part of that successful era. Their presence offers a link between the side’s previous triumph and the current campaign.
Jammu and Kashmir, meanwhile, will enter the final in search of their maiden Ranji Trophy title.
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