The second semi-final match of Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Elite was played between Uttarakhand and Karnataka at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The match ended in a draw, despite which KL Rahul’s team made it to the finals. Rahul made important contributions to the team in both the innings. So let us know how Rahul’s team Karnataka reached the final even after the match was drawn.

How were the finalists selected after the match draw?

Let us tell you that if the knockout matches (semi-finals, finals) of Ranji Trophy are drawn, the team which has taken the lead in the first innings is declared the winner. The winner was decided in the same manner in the match between Karnataka and Uttarakhand. Karnataka had taken the lead in the first innings, due to which the team got a place in the final even though the match was drawn.

Made it to the finals after 11 years

Let us tell you that Karnataka achieved a place in the final of Ranji Trophy after a long wait of 11 years. On the other hand, Jammu and Kashmir team reached the final of Ranji Trophy for the first time by winning the first semi-final. The title match between the two will be played from 24th February.

Karnataka made huge score in the first innings

Karnataka team, who came to bat first in the match, put a huge total of 736/10 runs on the board in the first innings. Captain Devdutt Padikkal played the biggest innings for the team and scored 232 runs on the board with the help of 29 fours and 3 sixes. Apart from this, KL Rahul scored 141 runs with the help of 11 fours and 5 sixes. Smaran Ravichandran, who came to bat at number five, played an innings of 135 runs with the help of 12 fours.

In response, Uttarakhand team was reduced to only 233 runs in its first innings. After this, Karnataka scored 323 runs in its second innings. Then by the end of the day, Uttarakhand team could reach only 260/6 runs while chasing in its second innings.