Nagpur: Vidarbha did everything right as they batted for almost five sessions, using their 37-run first innings lead to secure their third Ranji Trophy title on Sunday. Kerala, making their first finals appearance, put up a strong fight but Vidarbha showed their hard work and discipline throughout the season. They also finished second in the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Kerala had a couple of big moments that changed the match. Their captain, Sachin Baby, made a risky shot when he was on 98 runs, which could have led to a different outcome. They also missed an early chance to catch Karun Nair on Day 4 after Vidarbha lost two quick wickets. Vidarbha made the most of these chances, sealing their title after the final ended in a draw at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium.
This victory marks Vidarbha as a strong team in domestic cricket since they had won back-to-back titles in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons, and were runners-up last season. Under captain Akshay Wadkar and coach Usman Ghani, Vidarbha showcased great talent throughout this season. They were the best team from four groups, winning six out of seven matches and earning 40 points, carrying that momentum into the knockout stage.
Unlike Kerala, who had some luck in their knockout matches (winning by narrow margins), Vidarbha won their matches with confidence. They defeated Tamil Nadu by 198 runs in the quarters and beat defending champions Mumbai by 80 runs in the semis. Overall, Vidarbha won nine out of their ten matches this season, highlighting their strength in India’s top domestic competition.
In the final, Vidarbha executed their game plan perfectly, scoring 375/9 with impressive performances from Karun Nair (135 runs), Danish Malewar (73 runs), and Darshan Nalkande (51 not out). Vidarbha started the final day in control, having a lead of 286 runs. Although Nair couldn’t add many runs to his total, Vidarbha managed to stretch their lead to 412 runs before settling for a draw.
The team’s young stars played a key role in their success. Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, 22, set a new record for most wickets in a Ranji Trophy season with 69, earning him the Player-of-the-Tournament title. “It’s a dream come true… I worked hard on my fitness and skills,” Dubey shared.
Dubey also improved his batting skills and scored 476 runs this season, proving he can be a valuable all-rounder. “I prefer to see myself as a batting all-rounder; I really enjoy batting,” he said.
Another standout was Yash Rathod, 24, who scored 960 runs at an average of 53.33, making him the top scorer of the season. Nair joined Vidarbha at the start of this season and excelled in both formats, finishing fourth in the Ranji Trophy rankings with 863 runs in nine matches.
Karun Nair and Danish Malewar led the batting charge in the final, scoring crucial partnerships that helped Vidarbha. Skipper Akshay Wadkar, who plans to retire, also made significant contributions with 722 runs this season.
Wadkar expressed pride in his team, stating, “Everyone worked hard, and we’re all very happy. We prepared well after losing in the final last year.”
Match Summary: Vidarbha 379 & 375/9 (D Malewar 73, K Nair 135, D Nalkande 51, A Sarwate 4/96) vs. Kerala 342. Match drawn.
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