Pundir's Unbeaten Century and Yawer's Gritty Knock Propel Jammu & Kashmir to Strong Start in Ranji Trophy Final
A magnificent unbeaten century from Shubham Pundir and a determined 88 by young batsman Yawer Hassan placed Jammu & Kashmir in a commanding position on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final. The team closed at a formidable 284 for two against the formidable Karnataka side on Tuesday, setting a solid foundation in their historic first appearance in the tournament's title clash.
Pundir's Emphatic Century and Key Partnerships
The 27-year-old left-handed batsman Shubham Pundir remained unbeaten on 117 at stumps, showcasing exceptional skill and temperament. He received solid support from Abdul Samad, who contributed an unbeaten 52, with the pair adding an unbroken 105 runs for the third wicket. This partnership was crucial after captain Paras Dogra was forced to retire hurt following a blow to the neck from a Prasidh Krishna bouncer.
Earlier, Pundir and Yawer Hassan laid the platform with a vital 139-run partnership for the second wicket against the eight-time champions Karnataka. Pundir brought up his century in emphatic fashion, launching Shikhar Shetty over deep mid-wicket for a six. He celebrated the milestone by removing his helmet and raising his arms triumphantly toward the dressing room, acknowledging the significance of his innings in the final.
Jammu & Kashmir's Strategic Decision and Early Setback
On a surface expected to deteriorate as the match progresses, Jammu & Kashmir made the correct call at the toss. Captain Paras Dogra elected to bat first, a predictable but strategic decision given the conditions. However, the team suffered an early setback when opener Qamran Iqbal fell cheaply for just 6 runs. Iqbal edged a delivery from Prasidh Krishna that straightened slightly, with KL Rahul completing a straightforward catch in the slips. A lack of footwork contributed to the dismissal, putting early pressure on the batting side.
Yawer Hassan's Determined Innings and Partnership with Pundir
Despite the early loss, Jammu & Kashmir's decision to bat first was justified by the resilient partnership between Yawer Hassan and Shubham Pundir. The duo guided the side to 104 for one at lunch, with Yawer unbeaten on 57 and Pundir on 38 at the break. They handled Karnataka's experienced bowling attack with remarkable composure, navigating challenging conditions that included several plays and misses and a few fortunate edges.
The 22-year-old Yawer Hassan, who made his First-Class debut in Rohit Sharma's final red-ball appearance in 2025 and had gone nine matches without a half-century, rose to the occasion with a determined innings. His knock featured 13 boundaries and demonstrated significant grit. Just when he appeared set for a maiden hundred, Yawer fell to Prasidh Krishna, edging outside off-stump to KL Rahul at first slip—a dismissal similar to Qamran's earlier in the day.
Karnataka's Bowling Efforts and Key Moments
Karnataka's bowlers, comprising three pacers and leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, maintained disciplined lines and lengths but found little reward on the opening day. Gopal, who entered the final as the season's leading wicket-taker with 55 scalps, beat the bat on multiple occasions. Yet, Yawer and Pundir ensured he never settled into a consistent rhythm, rotating the strike steadily at around three runs per over to build a substantial partnership.
Before claiming Yawer's wicket, Prasidh Krishna tested the batsman with a sharp bouncer that struck him on the body, requiring medical attention. Captain Paras Dogra also endured a blow when a Prasidh bouncer hit him on the neck. The seamer appealed for a catch at forward short-leg, suspecting a glove deflection, but replays confirmed there was no contact. Despite being cleared of the dismissal, Dogra needed treatment and was eventually forced to walk off after further assessment from the team staff, paving the way for Abdul Samad to join Pundir.
Consolidation and Strong Finish for Jammu & Kashmir
From there, Shubham Pundir and Abdul Samad batted comfortably, extending their partnership past the hundred mark and firmly consolidating Jammu & Kashmir's position at the end of an absorbing opening day. Their unbroken stand of 105 runs not only stabilized the innings but also put the team in a dominant position against the eight-time champions.
Playing their maiden Ranji Trophy final after an impressive knockout run that included away wins over Madhya Pradesh and Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir have demonstrated resilience and skill. With Pundir unbeaten on 117 and Samad providing solid support, the team looks well-placed to build a substantial first-innings total as the match progresses on a surface expected to favor bowlers later.
