Things got intense during the second day of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 final between Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground in Hubli.
During the 101st over of the match, Jammu and Kashmir skipper Paras Dogralost his cool and headbutted substitute fielder KV Aneesh, who was fielding at forward short leg. On the fourth ball of the over, he picked up a lucky boundary off fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, as a thick outside edge raced to the fence.
Dogra and Aneesh got involved in a war of words before the former charged towards the latter and headbutted him with his helmet. Veteran player and former Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal intervened immediately and had a fight with Dogra. Umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe had to step in to diffuse the tension.
The 41-year-old Dogra eventually apologised to Aneesh but the young batter refused to accept. Star batters Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul continued giving Dogra a mouthful. The umpires had to intervene yet again and even had a word with Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal, asking him to calm his players.
Dogra, however, didn’t let the altercation deter his focus. He batted with a lot of grit and determination and scored 70 off 166 balls, eventually getting out in the 143rd over.
Ranji Trophy Final: Paras Dogra–KV Aneesh Altercation Sparks Drama in Hubli
Tempers flared on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 final between Karnataka cricket team and Jammu and Kashmir cricket team at the KSCA Hubli Cricket Ground.
During the 101st over, Jammu and Kashmir skipper Paras Dogra was involved in a heated altercation with Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh, who was stationed at forward short leg.
The incident unfolded after Dogra edged a delivery from pacer Prasidh Krishna for a fortunate boundary. Following a brief exchange of words, tensions escalated as Dogra charged towards Aneesh and headbutted him while still wearing his helmet.
Umpires and Senior Players Step In
Veteran Karnataka batter Mayank Agarwal quickly intervened, confronting Dogra as the situation threatened to spiral further. On-field umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe stepped in to calm both sides.
Although Dogra later apologised, Aneesh reportedly refused to accept it. The confrontation did not end there, as Agarwal and KL Rahul were seen engaging in verbal exchanges with the J&K skipper. The umpires again intervened and even spoke to Karnataka captain Devdutt Padikkal, urging him to control his players.
Dogra Responds With the Bat
Despite the controversy, the 41-year-old Dogra showed resilience with the bat. He displayed grit and determination, scoring a hard-fought 70 off 166 balls before being dismissed in the 143rd over.
Jammu and Kashmir, playing in their maiden Ranji Trophy final, have dominated proceedings so far. After opting to bat first, they reached 478/6 at Tea on Day 2 and will look to push their total close to — or beyond — the 550-run mark to tighten their grip on the title clash.
With high stakes and emotions running high, the final has delivered both quality cricket and intense drama.
