The upcoming Ranji Trophy final has been moved from Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to the KSCA Cricket Stadium in Hubballi. The five-day match is scheduled to begin on February 24. This decision was officially announced by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after careful evaluation and consultations with the BCCI.
Why Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final moves to Hubballi?
Here’s a breakdown of the two primary reasons behind shifting the final to Hubballi:
| Primary Reason | Details |
|---|---|
| Ongoing Safety Upgrades at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium | Extensive infrastructure and safety enhancement works are underway at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium following recommendations from a state-appointed Expert Committee. Several spectator gates and access points are being dismantled and widened as part of these improvements. The KSCA believes hosting a marquee event like the Ranji Trophy Final during construction would affect both match-viewing quality and spectator convenience. |
| Strategic Vision to Promote Cricket Beyond Bengaluru | The newly elected KSCA Managing Committee, led by former India cricketer and President Venkatesh Prasad, aims to take major domestic matches to regional centres across Karnataka. Hosting the final in Hubballi supports this plan to expand cricket’s reach, boost regional fan engagement, and strengthen the sporting ecosystem beyond Bengaluru. |
The move is a significant one, allowing cricket fans in the Hubballi-Dharwad region to witness a premier domestic final at their doorstep. This year’s final is particularly special as it features Karnataka, the eight-time champions appearing in their first Ranji Trophy final since the 2014-15 season, against a historic Jammu & Kashmir side that has reached the summit clash for the first time in 67 years since receiving BCCI affiliation.
Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final: Squads
Jammu and Kashmir: Paras Dogra (c), Abdul Samad, Shubham Khajuria, Qamran Iqbal, Abid Mushtaq, Vivrant Sharma, Umran Malik, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Auqib Nabi Dar, Sunil Kumar, Lone Nasir Muzaffar, Mujtaba Yousuf, Musaif Ajaz, Sahil Lotra, Umar Nazir Mir, Vanshaj Sharma, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, Yawer Hassan, Rohit K Sharma, Shubham Pundir, Dikshant Kundal
Karnataka: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal (c), Karun Nair, Smaran R, Shreyas Gopal, Kruthik Krishna, Vidwath Kaverappa, Vidyadhar Patil, Prasidh Krishna, Mohsin Khan, Shikhar Shetty, Shrijith KL, Vyshak V.
