In an unusual sight, KL Rahul took up bowling duties on the fifth and final day of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 final between Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir on the KSCA Stadium in Hubli on Saturday, February 28. Primarily known for his adaptability with the bat and behind the stumps, the 33-year-old surprised many by operating as a spinner.
With Karnataka struggling to make an impact with the ball, Rahul delivered the 81st and 83rd overs of Jammu & Kashmir’s second innings, making a gift of three runs in his first over and 12 in his next. After being struck for a few boundaries in his second spell, he was taken off the attack.
As per Cricbuzz, this marked the primary time he had bowled in domestic cricket since 2015. You may watch the video here:
If this match was not live streamed then people wouldn’t have believed that KL Rahul had bowled. 😍pic.twitter.com/xc5Rm1mwxm
— Kunal Yadav (@Kunal_KLR) February 28, 2026
I believed i saw every thing on this Ranji final… but KL Rahul bowling got here out of syllabus #ranjitrophy2026 #RanjiFinals pic.twitter.com/DdQ8tpR1LK
— Triya (@triyagulati) February 28, 2026
Prior to this appearance, KL Rahul had sent down 168 balls in first-class cricket, conceding 83 runs at an economy rate of two.96. Notably, in List-A cricket, he has claimed one wicket, ending with figures of 1 for 42 from 21 deliveries.
With the bat, nevertheless, Rahul endured a quiet outing in the primary innings, managing only 13 runs off 39 balls, including two fours. He will likely be aiming for a stronger contribution within the second innings.
Qamran Iqbal, Sahil Lotra Stand Push J&K’s Lead Beyond 550 In Ranji Trophy Final
Qamran Iqbal’s century, together with Sahil Lotra’s composed half-century, propelled Jammu & Kashmir’s second-innings lead beyond the 550-run mark within the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 final. On the time of writing, J&K were well placed at 278/4, with Iqbal unbeaten on 120 and Lotra batting on 78.
Among the many Karnataka bowlers, Prasidh Krishna has stood out, claiming two wickets up to now. Opting to bat first, Jammu & Kashmir piled up an enormous 584 of their opening innings, powered by an outstanding 121 from Shubam Singh Pundir.
Worthwhile half-centuries from Yawer Hussain, captain Paras Dogra, Abdul Samad, Kanhaiya Wadhawan, and Sahil Lotra further strengthened the overall. For Karnataka, Prasidh Krishna was the standout performer with a five-wicket haul.
In reply, Karnataka were dismissed for 293. Mayank Agarwal waged a lone battle, compiling a formidable 160 off 266 deliveries, laced with 21 fours. Auqib Nabi starred with the ball for J&K, claiming five wickets, while Yudhvir Singh and Sunil Kumar chipped in with two scalps each.
With a commanding advantage in hand, Jammu & Kashmir are actually closing in on what can be their maiden Ranji Trophy triumph.
Get the newest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.