Vidharbha team celebrates the win.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
There was no miracle. There was only the affirmation: Vidarbha is a major force in India’s domestic cricket.
Akshay Wadkar’s men won their third Ranji Trophy in seven years, beating Kerala in the final on first-innings lead at the VCA Stadium on Sunday. They had begun the final day leading by 286 runs with six wickets in hand.
Kerala’s only hope was a spectacular collapse by Vidarbha. But, the host was in no mood to oblige.
The first-time finalist did manage to get the centurion Karun Nair (135, 295b, 400m, 10×4, 2×6) out early, and then two more batters, but Akshay Karnewar and Darshan Nalkande stayed long enough to bat Kerala out of the match.
The two teams signed peace towards the end of the second session, after Darshan Nalkande completed his fifty. Vidarbha’s score at the time read 375 for nine — an overall lead of 412.
Earlier, Vidarbha resumed at the overnight 249 for four, but suffered a setback when Karun fell to Aditya Sarwate in the seventh over of the day. The batter stepped out and tried to play the ball to the on-side only to be beaten by the turn, and was stumped.
Before long, Harsh Dubey was trapped in front by a fuller faster ball from Eden Apple Tom, whose bowling, on his return to the team after three years, was probably the biggest positive for Kerala in the final. Then, in the following over, Sarwate, who was the hero of Vidarbha in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy final on this very ground, cleaned up Wadkar, playing his last match.
Vidarbha thus slid to 283 for seven. Sachin Baby’s men sensed an opportunity, as the lead was 320 and there was still time for a chase if they could get the remaining wickets quickly.
But Karnewar (30) and Nalkande (51 not out) showed why Vidarbha has been such a resilient side this season., blunting the Kerala attack for more than 20 overs. It was indeed a disappointing end for Kerala, which surprised everyone with its march to the final.
For Vidarbha, it was a much-deserved victory. And there was a small crowd to celebrate their moment of joy.
The scores:
Vidarbha — 1st Innings: 379.
Kerala — 1st Innings: 342.
Vidarbha — 2nd Innings: Parth Rekhade b Jalaj 1, Dhruv Shorey c Azharuddeen b Nidheesh 5, Danish Malewar c Baby b Akshay 73, Karun Nair st Azharuddeen b Sarwate 135, Yash Rathod lbw b Sarwate 24, Akshay Wadkar b Sarwate 25, Harsh Dubey lbw b Eden 4, Akshay Karnewar b Basil 30, Darshan Nalkande (not out) 51, Nachiket Bhute lbw b Sarwate 3, Yash Thakur (not out) 8; Extras (b-5, lb-9, nb-2) 16; Total (for nine wkts. in 143.5 overs): 375.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-7, 3-189, 4-238, 5-259, 6-279, 7-283, 8-331, 9-346.
Kerala bowling: Nidheesh 15-3-48-1, Jalaj 50-11-109-1, Eden 14-0-57-1, Sarwate 44.5-12-96-4, Basil 7-2-18-1, Akshay 13-2-33-1.
PoM: Malewar.
PoS: Dubey
Published – March 02, 2025 06:14 pm IST