The upcoming Ranji Trophy final has been shifted from M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to KSCA Cricket Stadium in Hubli. The five-day match is scheduled to begin on February 24. The decision was officially announced by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after careful assessment and consultation with the BCCI.
Why Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final in Hubli?
Here are the details of the two primary reasons behind shifting the final to Hubli:
| primary reason | Description |
|---|---|
| Ongoing security upgrades at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Extensive infrastructure and security enhancement works are underway at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium following the recommendations of the state-appointed expert committee. As part of these improvements several spectator gates and access points are being dismantled and widened. KSCA believes that hosting an important event like the Ranji Trophy final during construction will affect both the quality of match viewing and the convenience of spectators. |
| Strategic vision to promote cricket beyond Bengaluru | The newly elected KSCA managing committee, led by former Indian cricketer and president Venkatesh Prasad, aims to take major domestic matches to regional centers across Karnataka. Hosting the final in Hubli supports this plan to expand cricket’s reach, boost regional fan engagement and strengthen the sports ecosystem beyond Bengaluru. |
The move is a significant step forward, giving cricket fans in the Hubli-Dharwad region a chance to watch a major domestic final at their doorstep. This year’s final is particularly special as it features KarnatakaThe eight-time champions are appearing in a historic encounter in their first Ranji Trophy final since the 2014-15 season. Jammu and Kashmir The side which has reached the summit clash for the first time in 67 years after gaining affiliation from BCCI.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Final: Teams
Jammu and Kashmir: Paras Dogra (C), Abdul SamadShubham Khajuria, Qamran Iqbal, Abid Mushtaq, Vivarant Sharma, Umran Malik, Yudhveer Singh Charak, Auqib Nabi Dar, Sunil Kumar, Lone Nasir Muzaffar, Mujtaba Yousuf, Musaif Azaz, Sahil Lotra, Umar Nazir Mir, Vanshaj Sharma, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Yawar Hasan, Rohit K Sharma, Shubham Pundir, Dikshant. coil
Karnataka: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal (c), Karun Nair, Smaran R, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna, Vidavatha Kawerappa, Vidyadhar Patil, Prasidh Krishna, Mohsin Khan, Shikhar Shetty, Srijit KL, Vishak V.
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