Hubballi, Feb. 24 -- First-time finalists Jammu & Kashmir made a resounding statement against eight-time champions Karnataka on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final, at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

By the close of play, J&K reached a commanding 284/2, frustrating a star-studded Karnataka bowling attack.

After Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra won the toss and elected to bat, the pressure of the big stage seemed momentarily evident when Prasidh Krishna struck early, removing opener Qamran Iqbal for just 6 runs in the 11th over, reducing J&K to 18/1. However, that was as good as it got for the hosts for most of the day.

Opener Yawer Hassan and number three batter Shubham Pundir combined for a gritty and vital 139-run ...