Hubli, FEB 25: The Ranji Trophy final between Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir exploded into pandemonium on Day 2 at Hubli Cricket Ground as J&K skipper Paras Dogra headbutted substitute fielder KV Aneesh in a shocking on-field brawl that had umpires scrambling and players at loggerheads.
The ugly flashpoint hit in J&K’s first innings (101st over) with Dogra batting alongside Kanhaiya Wadhawan. After edging Prasidh Krishna for four, Dogra traded heated words with Aneesh at forward short leg—then charged and helmet-butted him. Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul jumped in as tempers flared, with Aneesh rejecting Dogra’s post-over apology.
Tension boiled over seconds later when Karnataka pacer Vijaykumar Vyshak clashed with Wadhawan after accidental run contact—nearly sparking another melee before cooler heads prevailed. Umpires restored order, but the drama stole headlines from J&K’s dominant batting.
Undeterred, J&K crossed 350, building on Shubham Pundir’s epic 121, Yawer Hassan’s 88, and Abdul Samad’s 61—cementing their historic final debut after a fairy-tale knockout run past Bengal semis.
Scoreline: J&K strong at 350+; Karnataka reeling.
Key Drama: Dogra-Aneesh headbutt; Vyshak-Wadhawan shove.
Stakes: J&K chase maiden title vs two-time champs Karnataka.
ICC yet to weigh in—expect fines, probes. Historic J&K charge continues amid ugliness.
