New Delhi: Vidarbha won the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 title after their final against Kerala ended in a draw on Day 5 at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha on Sunday, March 02. Karun Nair and Danish Malewar starred with the bat for Vidarbha as they slammed a century each in the final to help Vidarbha clinch victory based on first-innings lead. Vidarbha won their third Ranji Trophy title in 7 years.
Vidarbha rode on Malewar’s brilliant knock of 153 runs and Nair’s 86 to post a strong total of 379 runs in their first innings. Despite getting off to a poor start and losing their top three inside 23 runs in the first innings, Vidarbha managed to stage a spirited fightback with the help of Malewar and Nair, who combined to stage an excellent partnership of 215 runs for the 4th wicket.
The fate of the final was sealed on Day 3 of the final after Vidarbha managed to bowl out Kerala for 342 runs in their first innings to take a slender lead of 37 runs. Kerala skipper Sachin Baby missed out on a well-deserved hundred as he got dismissed on 98 while no.3 Aditya Sarwate played a sublime knock of 78 runs to keep Kerala in the hunt but the duo failed to help their team overhaul Vidarbha’s first innings total of 379 runs.
Nair and Malewar shone again in the second innings to power Vidarbha to 375/9. Nair scored a gritty 135 off 295 deliveries while Malewar struck 73 off 162 balls. The duo shared another valuable stand of 182 runs for the third wicket, helping their team post a huge total once again in the second innings. Tail-ender Darshan Nalkande too played a handy knock of 51 runs to play his part in Vidarbha’s victory.
Nalkande, Dubey impress with the ball for Vidarbha in final
Pacers Darshan Nalkande and Harsh Dubey impressed with the ball for Vidarbha in the final against Kerala. Both Nalkande and Dube picked up a three-wicket haul each to help Vidarbha bundle out Kerala for 342 runs in their first innings and secure a first-innings lead for their team.
Nalkande dismissed Kerala openers Rohan Kunnummal (0) and Akshay Chandran (14 cheaply to get Vidarbha off to a flyer with the ball while Dubey bagged the important scalps of Sarwate and Salman Nizar. Vidarbha dominated the proceedings throughout the tournament under skipper Akshay Wadkar and head coach Usman Ghani to bag their third Ranji Trophy title and assert their dominance as one of the best teams in the Indian domestic circuit.
Karun Nair’s prolific season
Nair, who joined Vidarbha for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, led from the front with the bat as he finished as the highest run-getter for them with 863 runs from 9 matches at an average of 53.93, including 4 centuries and two fifties. Nair finished 4th in the list of the highest run-getters of the season while Malewar, who shone in the final, finished with 783 runs at an average of over 52, including two tons and six half-centuries.
Karun Nair and Danish Malewar starred with the bat as Vidarbha defeated Kerala on first-innings lead in the final to win the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 title on Sunday. It was Vidarbha’s 3rd Ranji Trophy title in seven years. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
