Vidarbha secured their third Ranji Trophy title by drawing against Kerala, scoring 379 and 375 for 9 declared. Key performances included Karun Nair’s 135 and Danish Malewar’s 153. Despite Kerala’s strong efforts, including Sachin Baby’s near-century with 98 runs, they struggled to overcome Vidarbha’s total. Vidarbha’s dominance was evident as they defensive game kept Kerala in check for nearly five sessions. The match, witnessed by 3000 fans at VCA Stadium, highlighted crucial moments that could have turned the tide for Kerala. Vidarbha’s collective effort, marked by several standout players, cemented their championship victory in style.
Vidarbha 379 (Malewar 153, Nair 86, Nidheesh 3-61) and 375 for 9 dec (Nair 135, Malewar 73, Sarwate 4-96) drew with Kerala 342 (Baby 98, Sarwate 79, Nalkande 3-52)
Vidarbha exorcised the spirits of the 2023-24 season in the most resounding way possible—taking a dramatic first-innings lead and then methodically wearing down Kerala for nearly five sessions in the second innings to clinch the Ranji Trophy title for the third time. The achievement was particularly heartwarming as they celebrated this victory in front of nearly 3000 home supporters who gathered at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on a Sunday afternoon to witness Akshay Wadkar’s team hoist the trophy.
The Kerala team was left despondent, reflecting on the possibilities of what might have been. Would the outcome have differed if Sachin Baby had successfully connected on his slog sweep when he was on 98, with a reachable lead in sight? What if Akshay Chandran had taken the catch of the second-innings centurion Karun Nair early on day four? What if DRS hadn’t saved half-centurion Danish Malewar after Vidarbha faced two early dismissals?
Kerala had numerous moments to ponder over. Nevertheless, they gained invaluable experience from participating in their first final. The gesture of coach Amay Khurasiya walking to the center to collect a handful of the crumbling top layer of the Jamtha pitch spoke volumes about how much this meant to him.
The final day began with a glimmer of hope for Kerala. Even after Nair fell shortly after adding just three runs to his overnight tally of 132, it still felt like a long shot for Kerala to chase the total Vidarbha would set. Nevertheless, hope lingered when local boy Aditya Sarwate spun one past Nair. There was noticeable turn, variable bounce, and plenty of grip from the pitch, especially with a new ball in Kerala’s hands.
Then Harsh Dubey was dismissed lbw, playing across a fuller delivery from Eden Apple Tom. Two wickets within the first 45 minutes had Kerala buzzing. Could the gods be favoring another nail-biter? How could a team that reached here on the back of narrow leads of one and two runs fade away so quickly? Perhaps there was yet another twist in the tale.
This sense of anticipation heightened when Wadkar was bowled by a delivery that kept low. Sarwate, who had celebrated many triumphs alongside Wadkar in the Vidarbha dressing room, rejoiced energetically at having taken his wicket. Suddenly, Sarwate had three wickets, bolstered by Kerala’s fervent prayers.
At 2.20pm, with tea approaching, the stumps were drawn on an exhilarating season as Vidarbha was officially crowned champions. They reached the semi-finals having amassed the joint-most wins in a season, alongside Mumbai, and concluded the season in true khadoos fashion. It was a resolute performance led by Nair, whose fourth century of the season—ninth overall across formats—set the path. Malewar, their 21-year-old batting talent, also contributed with a half-century.
They more than made up for their initial slip when Nair was run out due to a mix-up with Malewar. That incident could have been pivotal. However, for Vidarbha, it turned out to be inconsequential, as their effort transcended beyond just Nair or Malewar.
It was also due to Yash Rathod, who ended the season as the top run-scorer. Or Dubey, who broke the Ranji record for the most wickets in a season. Or Parth Rekhade, whose triple-wicket haul in the semi-final derailed Mumbai, or Dhruv Shorey, who, like Nair, seamlessly integrated into the new environment. And Wadkar, the seasoned warrior who kept the team united through last year’s defeat, finally standing on the winner’s podium with the trophy in hand.
