Jammu and Kashmir advanced to their maiden Ranji Trophy final with a six-wicket win over Bengal in the 2025-26 semifinal at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, Kalyani, a match that concluded on February 18, 2026.
Overcoming a 26-run first-innings deficit, J&K dismissed Bengal for 99 in the second innings before chasing 126 in 34.4 overs to finish at 126/4.
Auqib Nabi delivered a decisive nine-wicket match haul (5/87 and 4/36), while Vanshaj Sharma and Abdul Samad sealed the chase with an unbeaten 55-run partnership, Vanshaj striking the winning runs.
Led by Paras Dogra, J&K will face Karnataka in the final from February 24–28, 2026, marking the first final appearance in the team’s 67-year history and a landmark moment for the region’s domestic cricket journey.
Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Jammu and Kashmir vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy Elite 2025-26 Semi Final |
| Venue | Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, Kalyani |
| Start Date | February 17, 2026 |
| Result | Jammu and Kashmir won by 6 wickets |
| Bengal | 328 & 99 |
| J&K | 302 & 126/4 (34.4 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Auqib Nabi Dar |
| Toss | Jammu and Kashmir won the toss and elected to field |
Bengal First Innings – 328 All Out
Patience defined Bengal’s approach after a watchful start. Once the new ball lost its bite, Sudip Kumar Gharami anchored proceedings, absorbing pressure and extending partnerships through the middle phase. His innings ensured the scoreboard kept moving without exposing the lower order too early.
Support came in measured bursts rather than sustained dominance. Contributions around Gharami allowed Bengal to cross 300, though the acceleration many would expect late in the innings never quite arrived.
For Jammu and Kashmir, persistence proved effective. Auqib Nabi Dar’s long spells forced mistakes, and breakthroughs arrived just as the stands threatened to grow. The innings closed competitively, but without decisive control.
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal | Sudip Kumar Gharami | 146 (246 balls) |
| Bengal | Shahbaz Ahmed | 42 (91 balls) |
| J&K | Auqib Nabi Dar | 5/87 (26 overs) |
| J&K | Sunil Kumar | 3 wickets |
Jammu and Kashmir First Innings – 302 All Out
Momentum briefly tilted Bengal’s way when early wickets reduced J&K to 13/2. Mohammed Shami extracted movement and maintained attacking lines, ensuring the hosts could not settle quickly.
Stability arrived through Abdul Samad and Paras Dogra. Rather than rebuilding cautiously for too long, Samad countered at the right moments, preventing Bengal from dictating terms entirely. Dogra’s presence added structure, allowing partnerships to stretch beyond short recoveries.
Although resistance from the lower order narrowed the gap, Bengal retained a slim advantage. Shami’s spell remained the defining factor, repeatedly intervening before J&K could push ahead.
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| J&K | Abdul Samad | 82 (85 balls) |
| J&K | Paras Dogra | 58 (112 balls) |
| Bengal | Mohammed Shami | 7/90 (22 overs) |
| Bengal | Mukesh Kumar | 2 wickets |
Bengal Second Innings – 99 All Out
A narrow lead demanded composure, yet Bengal never found rhythm. Early setbacks created immediate pressure, and the surface continued to reward disciplined seam bowling.
Auqib Nabi Dar shifted the match decisively. By targeting a consistent length and forcing batters onto the back foot, he dismantled the middle order. Sunil Kumar’s support ensured there was no escape at the other end.
Brief resistance surfaced, but partnerships dissolved quickly. The innings ended without recovery, leaving J&K with a manageable fourth-innings target.
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal | Shahbaz Ahmed | 24 (25 balls) |
| Bengal | Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal | 14 (41 balls) |
| J&K | Auqib Nabi Dar | 4/36 (10 overs) |
| J&K | Sunil Kumar | 3 wickets |
Jammu and Kashmir Second Innings – 126/4 (34.4 Overs)
The chase did not unfold without tension. Early breakthroughs from Bengal kept the requirement honest and briefly reopened the contest.
Composure, however, defined the closing stages. Abdul Samad reduced the scoring burden with timely strokes, easing pressure before Vanshaj Sharma guided the innings with control rather than urgency.
Measured batting saw the target reached without late drama. The six-wicket win secured Jammu and Kashmir’s place in the final, shaped by sustained bowling discipline and decisive middle-order responses.
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| J&K | Vanshaj Sharma | 37* (80 balls) |
| J&K | Abdul Samad | 29 (26 balls) |
| Bengal | Akash Deep | 3 wickets |
| Bengal | Mohammed Shami | 1 wicket |
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