<p>Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) serves as a staple food for more than half of the world’s population, particularly in Asia, yet its productivity is often constrained by rice blast caused by <i>Pyricularia oryzae</i> (syn. <i>Magnaporthe oryzae</i>). The management of rice blast is complicated owing to high genetic variability of the pathogen and the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains. To address this, a two-year field investigation was undertaken at a known rice blast hotspot in Jammu and Kashmir, India, to assess the comparative performance of ten fungicidal treatments, including both single-site and combination formulations, against leaf and neck blast in the aromatic and highly susceptible cultivar Mushk Budji. The results indicated that combination fungicides, particularly Fluopyram + Tebuconazole and Propiconazole + Tricyclazole, produced the most significant reductions in leaf blast incidence, disease severity, and neck blast intensity, while simultaneously resulting in the highest grain yields. The research thrusts over the urgent need for integrated disease management strategies that incorporate combination fungicides with multiple modes of action to counteract the <i>M. oryzae</i> and delay resistance development. Future perspectives call for surveillance of fungicide resistance, the development of novel multi-target compounds, and integration of chemical control with genetic and agronomic innovations to ensure durable rice blast management and global food security.</p>