Vidarbha put last season’s heartbreak behind them in stunning fashion, claiming their third Ranji Trophy title with a dominant performance against Kerala. Their hard-fought first-innings lead and marathon second-innings batting display broke Kerala’s resistance, sealing a memorable victory in front of 3,000 passionate home fans at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.
Captain Akshay Wadkar lifted the trophy with pride, marking the culmination of an exceptional campaign, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
The final day began with a glimmer of hope for Kerala. Karun Nair, having resumed at 132 overnight, added only three runs before being dismissed. Harsh Dubey then trapped Eden Apple Tom LBW, seemingly setting up a potential turnaround. When Wadkar was bowled by a low delivery and Aditya Sarwate took his third wicket, Kerala’s belief surged.
But Vidarbha’s resilience came to the fore. Spinner Akshay Karnewar, who hadn’t been a standout with the ball, played a crucial 30-run knock, soaking up valuable time. As Darshan Nalkande smashed a half-century, Kerala’s hopes faded. At 2:20 PM, stumps were drawn with tea approaching, and Vidarbha were officially crowned champions.
Vidarbha’s campaign was marked by relentless determination. They reached the semi-finals with the joint-most wins alongside Mumbai. The title triumph was a collective effort, with key contributions from Karun Nair, who scored his fourth century of the season, and 21-year-old Malewar, who delivered a vital half-century.
The team’s success wasn’t just built on individual performances but on a cohesive unit. Yash Rathod emerged as the season’s top run-scorer, Harsh Dubey set a new record for most wickets in a Ranji season, and Parth Rekhade’s devastating semi-final spell crushed Mumbai’s title dreams.
New addition Dhruv Shorey adapted seamlessly to the squad, while skipper Akshay Wadkar, battle-hardened from last year’s disappointment, led his team to glory.
Vidarbha’s trademark gritty style of cricket shone through once again, cementing their place among the elite in Indian domestic cricket.
(With ANI inputs)
