Ranji Trophy final: Shubham Pundir's century, Yawer Hassan's 88 put J&K in command vs Karnataka

Hubballi: Jammu & Kashmir seized the opening day of the Ranji Trophy final at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium, reaching 284 for 2 in 87 overs after an early wobble that hinted at Karnataka dominance. Shubham Pundir’s unbeaten 117 (221b, 12x4, 2x6) and Yawer Hassan’s fluent 88 laid the platform, while Abdul Samad’s counter-punching 52 not out ensured the visitors finished with the initiative.

Prasidh Krishna, Vidhyadhar Patil and Vyshak Vijaykumar had threatened in the first hour, beating the bat repeatedly and accounting for Qamran Iqbal, caught by KL Rahul at second slip for 6. The breakthrough left J&K at 18 for 1, but Hassan and Pundir’s 139-run stand for the second wicket reversed the narrative. Hassan, circumspect early on, cashed in on half-volleys from Vyshak with back-to-back cover drives and reached a 77-ball maiden first-class fifty with a late cut to the backward-point boundary. Pundir counter-attacked Prasidh, lofting down the ground and sweeping debutant leggie Shreyas Gopal for four first ball.

Karnataka’s intensity waned as the day progressed. Two unsuccessful reviews, a missed stumping by wicketkeeper Kruthik Krishna off Pundir and a spilt chance to substitute fielder KV Aneesh blunted the hosts’ momentum. Prasidh eventually ended the Hassan-Pundir alliance, drawing an edge to Rahul in the slips, but Paras Dogra’s brief stay was cut short when he retired hurt after being struck twice, once on the neck and later on the hand.

Unperturbed, Pundir and Samad feasted on the spinners in the final session. Pundir stepped out to launch off-spinner Shikhar Shetty over deep midwicket for six to bring up his fourth first-class hundred, while Samad peppered the arc between long-on and deep midwicket as 127 runs came in the last 32 overs. By stumps, J&K had wrested control, their only concern Dogra’s fitness ahead of day two.