The high-stakes Ranji Trophy 2026 final between Jammu & Kashmir and Karnataka took an ugly turn on Wednesday, February 25, as J&K captain and domestic veteran Paras Dogra was fined 50% of his match fee for a physical altercation on the field.
The 41-year-old skipper was sanctioned by the BCCI after he headbutted Karnataka’s substitute fielder, KV Aneesh, during a heated Day 2 exchange at the Hubballi Cricket Ground.
The Incident: 101st Over Flashpoint
The confrontation erupted during the 101st over of Jammu & Kashmir’s first innings.
- The Trigger: After edging a delivery from pacer Prasidh Krishna for a boundary, Dogra was reportedly subjected to relentless sledging by Aneesh, who was stationed at forward short leg.
- The Physical Act: Losing his cool, Dogra charged at the fielder and made contact with a helmeted headbutt.
- Intervention: Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal and the on-field umpires rushed in to separate the two. While Dogra later offered an apology, reports indicate that Aneesh outrightly rejected it.
- Verbal Volleys: The tension escalated as senior Karnataka players KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal were seen engaging in a prolonged verbal spat with Dogra following the incident.
The Sanction
Following a review by the match referee and a report from the umpires, the BCCI took swift disciplinary action:
- Penalty: 50% of match fee fine.
- Violation: Breach of the BCCI Code of Conduct relating to physical contact and bringing the game into disrepute.
Match Context: J&K in Command Despite Chaos
Despite the disciplinary drama, Jammu & Kashmir remains in a dominant position in their quest for a maiden Ranji title.
| Player | Score | Status |
| Shubham Pundir | 121 | c Nair b Patil |
| Yawer Hassan | 88 | lbw b Vyshak |
| Paras Dogra | 70 | c Padikkal b Prasidh |
| Kanhaiya Wadhawan | 70 | b Vyshak |
| Abdul Samad | 61 | c Agarwal b Prasidh |
Stumps Day 2: J&K finished at a massive 527/6, with Sahil Lotra (57*) and Abid Mushtaq (20*) at the crease.
A Jarring Moment for a Legend
The incident has shocked the domestic circuit primarily due to Dogra’s stature.
- 10,000 Run Milestone: Just last week, in the semi-final against Bengal, Dogra became only the second player in history (after Wasim Jaffer) to cross 10,000 runs in the Ranji Trophy.
- Record Breaker: He reached the milestone in just 147 innings, making him the fastest to do so.
- Experience: Currently playing his 27th season, Dogra has been the pillar of J&K’s historic run to their first-ever final.