Daijiworld Media Network - Hubballi
Hubballi, Feb 25: The Ranji Trophy final between Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka turned heated on Day 2 after J&K captain Paras Dogra lost his cool and headbutted Karnataka substitute fielder KV Aneesh at the Hubli Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in the 101st over of J&K’s innings. Dogra, who was building a steady partnership with Kanhaiya Wadhawan, edged a delivery from Prasidh Krishna for a boundary. Following the shot, an exchange of words took place between Dogra and Aneesh, stationed at forward short leg.
In a sudden escalation, Dogra charged at Aneesh and headbutted him while still wearing his helmet. Karnataka skipper Mayank Agarwal intervened immediately to defuse the situation. It is understood that constant sledging from Aneesh may have triggered the reaction.
The umpires stepped in as tensions rose. Though Dogra apologised after the over, Aneesh reportedly rejected the apology. Agarwal and KL Rahul, fielding nearby, were seen engaging in verbal exchanges with the J&K captain.
Earlier on Day 1, Dogra had been struck on the glove by a rising bouncer from Vijaykumar Vyshak, forcing him to retire hurt on 9 off 48 deliveries.
Soon after, another confrontation unfolded between pacer Vyshak and Wadhawan. While attempting a quick single, Wadhawan’s elbow brushed against the bowler during his follow-through. The two came face to face before the umpire and a teammate intervened to separate them. Dogra, stationed at the non-striker’s end, was seen smiling at the unfolding drama.
Despite the on-field skirmishes, Jammu & Kashmir strengthened their position, reaching 350 for six. On Day 1, Shubham Pundir set the tone with a superb 121, while Yawer Hassan (88) and Abdul Samad (61) chipped in with crucial half-centuries in J&K’s maiden Ranji Trophy final appearance.
The 41-year-old Dogra recently etched his name into the record books by becoming only the second player in Ranji Trophy history to surpass 10,000 runs, achieving the milestone in the semi-final against Bengal cricket team. He now joins the elite company of Wasim Jaffer.
A domestic stalwart playing his 27th Ranji season, Dogra spent 17 years with Himachal Pradesh before moving to Puducherry in 2018-19 and later switching to J&K last year. Under his leadership, J&K have enjoyed a strong campaign, with Dogra scoring 551 runs in nine matches.
Former J&K captain Parvez Rasool lauded Dogra’s impact, stating that his experience and leadership brought stability and belief to the side, while also setting a strong example for younger players aspiring to compete at the highest domestic level.