Two tons, three points

 After opener Aman Mokhade, Yash Rathod hits an unbeaten century as Vidarbha earn 3 points against Jharkhand

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 29, 2025

VIDARBHA opener Aman Mokhade (176) again missed a double century while left-handed middle-order mainstay Yash Rathod (101*) struck his career’s eighth hundred as Vidarbha took three points on the basis of first innings lead against Jharkhand here at VCA Jamtha Stadium on Tuesday.

The draw lifted Vidarbha to top of Group A with 10 points while Jharkhand took second spot with eight points.

Vidarbha next play Tamil Nadu at Coimbatore from November One.

Asked to bat first, Jharkhand posted 332 all out with Vidarbha’s Nachiket Bhute taking four wickets and Praful Hinge three.

Vidarbha, resuming the final day at 239 for two, scored 492 for five with Rathod hitting an unbeaten century and Ravikumar Samarth (63) and Akshay Karnewar (57*) cracking fine half centuries.

Vidarbha declared their innings with a lead of 160 runs, immediately after Rathod completed his ton, who hit Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan for a boundary through covers. 

The teams shook hands and the match was called off.

Earlier, Vidarbha started well with overnight batters Mokhade and Samarth stretching their partnership further. Both picked singles and doubles and hit occasional boundaries in between to inch closer to Jharkhand’s 332. Mokhade looked determined to complete his maiden double century. He was in total control as he drove Vikas Kumar for a boundary through covers early in the morning. He also pushed the ball between slips to pick a double the next over.

But again, like in the first game, the talented batter missed a chance to score a double ton. He missed the line completely to see his furniture disturbed off Rishav Raj who bowled a straighter one. Mokhade stretched for a forward defence but failed to cover his stumps as he returned to the pavilion dejected.

During his 445-minute stay in the middle, Mokhade’s 176 runs came from 312 balls laced with 14 boundaries and two sixes. Along with Ravikumar Samarth, the two added 71 runs for the third wicket.

Samarth played his shots along the ground and with left-hander Rathod, the two helped Vidarbha take the lead after lunch.

Karnataka-born Samarth duly completed his 36th First Class half century, first for Vidarbha, by picking up a double off Rishav Raj. 

The next ball, he drove the same bowler for a boundary. But he, too, could not keep his calm and stepped out to hit Anukul Roy out of the park only to be stumped by Kumar Kushagra.

Meanwhile, Rathod, last season’s highest runs scorer, completed his 11th First Class half century with a single of Rishav as Vidarbha continued to increase their lead. He and Akshay Karnewar then remained unseparated putting up 120 runs for fourth wicket. 

Rathod’s unbeaten knock came from 145 deliveries and had nine boundaries.

Yadav, Bhoyar in team for TN game

PACER Lalit Yadav and all-rounder Satyam Bhoyar made it to the Vidarbha Ranji Trophy squad for their third round match against Tamil Nadu.

THE selectors have included Yadav in place of injured Aditya Thakare and added Bhoyar to the for the Elite Group ‘A’ match to be played in Coimbatore from November 1 to 4.

Defending champions Vidarbha, led by Akshay Wadkar, are topping Group A with 10 points from two games.

THE SQUAD: Akshay Wadkar (Captain & WK), Atharva Taide, Yash Rathod (Vice-Captain), Aman Mokhade, Parth Rekhade, Nachiket Bhute, Darshan Nalkande, Praful Hinge, Akshay Karnewar, Yash Kadam, Shubham Kapse, Shivam Deshmukh (WK), Ganesh Bhosle, Satyam Bhoyar, Lalit Yadav, Dhruv Shorey, R Samarth.

SUPPORT STAFF: Coach: Usman Ghani; Asst Coach: Dharmender Ahlawat; S&C Coach: Yuvraj Singh Dasondhi; Physio: Dr Nitin Khurana; Video Analyst: Ajeenkya Sawale; Masseur: Bhushan Zhade; Sidearm ball thrower: Yash Thorat; Manager: Jitendra Darbhe.

The time I spent on bench taught me a lot: Centurion Mokhade

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 29, 2025

WARMING the bench and not getting a game the whole season would demoralise anybody but for Aman Mokhade, it was a learning curve which taught him how to remain calm and wait for the small window to show his credentials.

Mokhade is regarded as one of the most talented batters Vidarbha have at present. But selectors were finding it difficult to insert him in a squad already packed with performers. Mokhade was used as a replacement batter until Danish Malewar got injured before the start of new season. And the 24-year-old right-handed opener pounced the opportunity with both hands hitting Daddy Hundred in back-to-back matches. “The last season taught me a lot. I was not getting games and was waiting for one opportunity. Those days on the bench taught me to remain calm and wait for the opportunity. It is not easy to remain on the bench watching others perform. I learned a lot during that period and am grateful that I managed to utilise those learning in these two matches,” Mokhade said while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ after Vidarbha won the match against Jharkhand on the basis of first innings lead.

“Those days really helped me as I learned a lot by watching others play. I learned how to bat in different situations,” revealed Mokhade.

A century (183) against Nagaland followed up by another ton (176) against Jharkhand at Jamtha, Mokhade said he would savour both the innings but will rate the second one best as it came against a quality side. “Of course, both centuries are special but I would rate this one as on top because we were playing against a quality side. They have some big names in their list and are an experienced bunch. Batting was challenging initially and we (with Atharva Taide) gave the team a good start. But yes, I rue missing double centuries on both the occasions. I was determined that I would score here but that could not happen,” added Mokhade who hit 176 from 312 balls.

“I am sure it (double century) is round the corner as I am batting well and scoring runs for my team. It is not far away,” Mokhade said confidently.

The opening batter said that it was important to score big at the top as the team was chasing a big total. “We wanted to bat long. The 332 runs first innings score was not an easy chase and we decided to bat deep. We still wanted to go for seven points. But we lost a couple of quick wickets and then had to change our plan. Otherwise, we would have bowled here again and challenged them,” said Mokhade.

On creating a happy selection headache for the coach and selectors, Mokhade said that it’s good for the side. “This will continue in the Vidarbha side. All the players are performing above expectations. In the future it (the headache) will definitely grow. All the players have potential to perform and I am sure if we make a second Vidarbha squad they will also give a tough fight to other teams,” Mokhade concluded.

Mokhade’s 2nd straight ton

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 28, 2025

ONE should learn how to grab opportunities from Aman Mokhade. It was a God-send opening for Mohkade after Danish Malewar got injured and could not recover in time for Vidarbha’s opening Ranji Trophy match against Nagaland in Bengaluru. 

Mokhade made the most of that chance, hitting a career-best 183, which helped Vidarbha register an innings win.

In the second game here at Jamtha Stadium on Monday, the 24-year-old Mokhade slammed his second successive century (145*; 267b, 10x4, 2x6) to help Vidarbha inch closer to Jharkhand’s first innings total 

of 232. Vidarbha were 239 for two needing another 94 runs to take the first innings lead when bad light once again stopped play. 

Mokhade and Ravikumar Samarth (12) were occupying the crease.

Two century stands put Vidarbha in total control on the third day. Mokhade and Atharva Taide (31) put up 111 runs for the opening wicket and then the centurion opener and Dhruv Shorey (48) added 108 for the second wicket to put their side in a position of strength.

Mokhade’s century celebration was apt with satisfaction written on it. A gentle punch from his right fist and then arms raised with the bat, Mokhade looked a relieved and contented man.

Dhruv Shorey (48) watched his partner’s celebration from a handshaking distance and gave him his space to savour the moment. They then hugged each other and got back to business, piling misery on Jharkhand bowlers.

Vidarbha’s strong foundation was laid by Mokhade and Taide in the morning. There was no hurry as Vidarbha scored their first runs from the bat after 41 deliveries. Taide’s innings was totally unlike-Taide, playing almost a ‘dead bat’ which was the need of the hour while Mokhade took on the mettle scoring runs through gaps. Taide’s first runs came after 33 deliveries, a tap towards long-on for a couple. 

Both the batters remained unseparated at lunch scoring 75 runs from 35 overs.

They continued in the same vein after the break and Taide started pushing the ball through gaps. But the partnership had a sad end when Taide went for an unwanted run only to get run out by an athletic Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan who did not keep wickets after the first session.

Taide tapped a delivery towards mid-on region and went for a tight single but Kishan 

took a diving direct hit to end the partnership.

Mokhade’s innings was concentration personified. He hit five boundaries from 118 deliveries for his fifty. His 100 came from 199 balls which had another five balls to the fence and two over it. 

He swept, drove and at times played pull shots to build up his chanceless innings. Mokhade also used the pace of the ball to hit a four through covers in one of pacer Jatin Pandey’s overs which received a huge applause from the dressing room. 

In the first session, the batter took spinner Anukul Roy for a special liking hitting him for three boundaries. After lunch, Roy had a long spell of 18 overs but without success.

Shorey, meanwhile, middled the ball well and hit four boundaries but was unlucky to get out, two runs short of his 23rd half century.  A Sahil Raj’s delivery passed close to his body into part-time wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra’s gloves but the umpire thought the batter had edged it and raised his finger. 

Shorey shook his head in disbelief and showed that the ball had brushed his waist. 

But the decision was made and he had to walk back.

Jharkhand, who were totally outplayed by Vidarbha, barring the two wickets they managed to take in the day, used six bowlers including Kishan who rolled his arms for a couple of overs.

Jharkhand tail frustrate Vid

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 27, 2025

JHARKHAND tail wagged to frustrate Vidarbha as they posted 332 in their first innings on the second day of their Elite Group A Ranji Trophy match at VCA Jamtha Stadium on Sunday.

Vidarbha’s innings could not start as the play was suspended due to bad light immediately when Jharkhand players walked into the field. The day was called off after a few minutes.

Vidarbha did manage to take some quick wickets in the three-hour second session in which they bowled 43 overs but Jharkhand tailenders did not budge as the last three wickets added 63 runs.

Pacers Praful Hinge (3-63) and Nachiket Bhute (4-41) shared seven wickets between them, but the last wicket pair of Jatin Pandey (18*) and Vikas Kumar (25) added 41 to take Jharkhand’s total to 332.

Vidarbha struck in the middle session taking six wickets with the second new ball (taken in the 86th over). From 255 for three, Jharkhand were 262 for seven by 95th over. But Pandey joined hands with Sahil Raj (13) and then with Vikas to frustrate Vidarbha.

The sun once again remained behind clouds for most part of the morning session and Vidarbha managed to break the overnight opening wicket partnership of 119 runs between openers Shikhar Mohan (60) and Sharandeep Singh (69) quickly sending back the former.

Hinge was rewarded for his consistent line as the lanky bowler pitched one on the coin forcing Shikhar Mohan to nick back to wicketkeeper captain Akshay Wadkar on his personal overnight score of 60 runs.

Sharandeep Singh later completed his career’s seventh half century from 111 deliveries in the morning with a beautiful cover drive off Nalkande. His partner in the middle, Suraj Kumar (24) showed his batting skills with a lovely boundary through covers off Hinge in the 48th over. The left-handed batter tried to pace up the innings hitting another boundary, this time a straighter one, off Parth Rekhade’s bowling in the 53rd over. But his innings was cut short by Bhute as the batter tried to overpower the bowler with a pull shot only to give a high catch to Hinge at fine leg boundary.

Sharandeep’s fine innings was finally halted before lunch when Akshay Karnewar spun his delivery enough to get the edge of his bat as the red cherry landed in Atharva Taide’s hands at first slip.

Vidarbha had a chance to gain control immediately after lunch but Wadkar, who was otherwise outstanding behind the stumps, missed an easy stumping chance. Virat Singh (36) stepped out for a big heave but missed the line off Rekhade. But Wadkar failed to collect the ball as the opportunity went in vain.

Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan (45) and Virat then started taking on the bowlers hitting boundaries from both the ends.

Ishan hit two successive boundaries off Hinge in the 92nd over but the bowler had the last laugh as he got the prized scalp on the last ball of his over. Ishan slapped an aerial shot towards square leg only to find Darshan Nalkande grabbing it inches inside the ropes. The partnership yielded 78 runs. One brought two as Bhute got the wicket of Virat caught by Wadkar. 

But when Vidarbha thought that they had an early chance to bat, Jharkhand tail wagged, frustrating the home team.

Jharkhand take honours on rain-curtailed Day One

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 26, 2025

VIDARBHA bowlers, without the services of spinner Harsh Dubey and pacer Yash Thakur, toiled hard in a rain-truncated opening day of their Ranji Trophy match against Jharkhand at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium on Saturday. Put into bat, Jharkhand were 119 for no loss from 38 overs when the play was stopped 45 minutes before scheduled time due to bad light.

Dubey and Thakur have been summoned for India ‘A’ duty and Vidarbha missed the two badly as none of the other front-line bowlers could manage to pose a threat to the two Jharkhand openers.

Left-hander Shikhar Mohan (60*, 127b, 5x4) and Sharadeep Singh (46*, 101b, 4x4) did not give Vidarbha any space to dominate with their composed batting putting up an unbeaten century run stand. 

The first session of the day was completely washed out and play was not possible for more than three hours forcing the teams to stay inside the dressing room. 

The rain started an hour and a half before the start of play in the morning and continued till noon. There were short passages without a drop but as soon as umpires ventured into the field for inspection, it started to drizzle again. This happened on more than three occasions. The first inspection was at 10.10 am and then after another 20 minutes. There was another inspection at 11.05 am but as it happened earlier in the day, it started drizzling again.

Finally, it was at around 12 noon that the rain stopped and groundsmen started removing the covers. The umpires inspected the outfield immediately. Heavy roller was used to roll the pitch which was under covers for whole morning.

With overcast conditions, Vidarbha’s decision to bowl first backfired as they failed to make an impact with the ball in the first session with Jharkhand putting up 66 without any dent at tea.

The three-pronged pace attack of Darshan Nalkande, Nachiket Bhute and Praful Hinge did manage to swing deliveries which passed the bat from kissing distance but the end result was in negative. Vidarbha started with Parth Rekhade who bowled the second over of the day but the spinner was removed after only two overs. It was only after tea that he was re-introduced because of bad light but again had to be pulled out as the light improved and umpires allowed pacers to operate.

Jharkhand batters Mohan and Singh did a fabulous job for their side by applying themselves. While Mohan started with a couple of boundaries off Nalkande’s first over, Singh lowered his guard and played the second fiddle. Vidarbha had a chance but Aman Mokhade dropped Mohan at 27 in the gully region.

Mohan made most of the reprieve and a boundary towards mid-wicket and a single next ball off Rekhade brought a well-deserved half century for him. The knock came from 112 balls with four boundaries. 

In the process the two also added 100 runs from 201 deliveries for the opening wicket to put their side in a position of strength.

Whenever the debut comes, it will be for ‘Maa Bharti’: Ganesh

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 25, 2025

HE HAS walked the tight rope to reach this far. There were struggles which he does not want to remember. Ganesh Bhosle, the 24-year-old included in the Vidarbha 17-member squad for the Ranji Trophy match against Jharkhand starting Saturday, wants to remain in the present.

With premier left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey on India ‘A’ duty, Bhosle stands a great chance to fulfil his first dream: playing Ranji Trophy for Vidarbha.

But the soft-spoken right-arm spinner is not spending sleepless nights thinking about the debut game. He only wants to keep working hard and let the selectors do their job.

On the eve of Vidarbha’s second round match against Jharkhand here at Jamtha stadium, Bhosle’s eyes panned around the ground again and again as he spoke at length about his journey from Akola’s shanty house, to losing his parents at a tender age, to making it to various age group Vidarbha teams.

“I am not thinking about making a debut tomorrow. It will come at the opportune time,” said Bhosle talking exclusively with ‘The Hitavada’.

“I have struggled since my childhood but I don’t want to remember those days. I lost my parents at an early age. (He lost his father Bharat when he was 11 years old and mother Bharti in 2020 due to COVID). I want to live in the present. Anybody, who loses his parents early, knows what struggle is. My elder brother helped me a lot in my cricketing career,” said Bhosle who wishes to wipe out all those memories. When asked as to whom he would dedicate his debut game to if he plays tomorrow? “My mother Bharti,” pat came the reply with a glow in his eyes.

“Yes, my first Ranji game would be for her. I lost her to COVID and I would dedicate it to her,” he added.

Bhosle’s cricketing journey started when he was 10 years old. He used to venture at a small ground in Akola and watch seniors play.

“I was sort of a ball-boy there. I used to collect and throw the balls back to the seniors. At times, when some players used to come early to the ground, I would try to bowl them. There was one Tendulkar sir (don’t know his first name) who used to teach me a bit of bowling,” Bhosle remembered his early days in Akola.

As he grew older, the spinner got selected in various age group teams of Vidarbha and steadily attracted selectors’ attention.

From being stand-by in the Under-14 age group to getting a chance in the Under-16 Vidarbha side, Ganesh burnt midnight oil during VCA’s camps and got rewarded.

“I got a chance to play for the U-16 team where I took 12 wickets from two games. This helped me get selected for the Central Zone team in 2017-18,” Bhosle recalled.

“I learnt a lot during the CZ Kanpur camp, even though I did not get to play any matches.”

Bhosle was part of Vidarbha U-19 squad which finished runners-up in the Cooch Behar Trophy where he took 10 wickets in a match.

The COVID break disrupted his journey a bit but the Byjus T20 next year gave him more wings to fly. “I took 20 wickets from six matches which helped me get selected for Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in 2021-22,” stated Bhosle.

The selectors kept him in the loop as he was again picked for the Vijay Hazare and Ranji Trophy teams. 

The moment came last year when Bhosle took 35 wickets in Col CK Nayudu Trophy forcing selectors to give him another shot in Ranji.

“Last year, I took 35 wickets from seven matches in the CK Nayudu Trophy. This year at the Captain Thimmaiah Memorial KSCA Trophy in Bengaluru, I have taken 10-11 wickets from two games.”

“When I was around 14 years of age I never thought of playing competitive cricket. But when I reached 16, I started dreaming of playing Ranji for Vidarbha. After Ranji, my ultimate dream is to play for India one day,” Bhosle said.

Bhosle is spinning his web and collecting wickets in heaps. His dream of making a Ranji debut is not far away which he would dedicate his first game to his late mother ‘Maa Bharti’.

Vid aim for another dominant show

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 25, 2025

UNBEATEN in last 12 First Class matches, defending champions Vidarbha will walk into the Jamtha stadium as favourites when they take on Jharkhand in the second round of Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match starting Saturday.

In 10 Ranji matches last season, Vidarbha played seven league games, winning six and drawing one as they topped their group. They then went on to win the three knock-out games — quarters, semis and the final — to keep their slate clean.

The Akshay Wadkar-led side stretched its dominance with their third Irani Cup title earlier this month stamping their authority in the domestic circuit. The new season started well for Vidarbha as they registered an outright win in their opening fixture over minnows Nagaland at Centre of Excellence ground in Bengaluru to set the ball rolling.

The game against Jharkhand will be their first home match and Vidarbha will look to maintaining their winning run, despite missing the services of two premier bowlers in spinner Harsh Dubey and pacer Yash Thakur who both have been included in the India ‘A’ side for the four-day match against South Africa ‘A’.

With Vidarbha reeling on two spinners at home in most of the games, right-arm spinner Ganesh Bhosle might get a chance to make his debut.

The 24-year-old Akola bowler bowled in the nets on the eve of the match under the watchful eyes of coach Usman Ghani on Friday. “We will look at the pitch and the conditions tomorrow and then only will decide on the playing XI. But yes, he (Bhosle) will get a chance. I can’t say which match he will play and when,” Ghani told ‘The Hitavada’.

With Dubey on India ‘A’ duty, Parth Rekhade will spearhead the spin department likely in the company of Bhosle.

The pace department will be headed by Aditya Thakare who was rested in the opening game against Nagaland along with Thakur. Vidarbha have added seamer Shubham Kapse to the side as Thakur’s replacement.

It would be a toss-up between seamers Darshan Nalkande, Nachiket Bhute and Kapse for a place in the playing XI. The batting line-up is in tremendous form with opener Aman Mokhade hitting a huge 183 to cement his place in the XI. Atharva Taide will be aiming to get some big runs after his title-winning century against Rest of India in Irani Cup. Professional Dhurv Shorey, who hit a fine half century (64) and Yash Rathod (71) will continue to man the middle order along with captain Wadkar. 

Newcomer Ravikumar Samarth will have to show his batting prowess after a five-ball three runs in the match against Nagaland. Vidarbha will definitely miss Dubey who is also a handy batter. 

“We are happy for Dubey and Thakur getting India (A) call-up. Yes, we will miss them but it is also a good opportunity for other players to show their skills and grab the opportunity,” said coach Ghani, who has won all the three major domestic trophies including the Duleep trophy as a Central Zone coach. “We have a set of plans for different situations and we will play accordingly as per the situation,” he added. 

Jharkhand, on the other hand, will also step into the field with confidence after their innings win over Tamil Nadu at Coimbatore.

It was captain Ishan Kishan’s 173-run knock which was instrumental in their innings and 114-run win. 

The team would look to their captain for another big show.

Openers Shikhar Moon and Sharandeep Singh, who gave their side a good start will have to tackle Vidarbha pacers. Apart from wicketkeeper-batter Kishan, Jharkhand’s batting will revolve around Kumar Suraj, Virat Singh and Anukul Roy. Their bowling department will be manned by Jatin Pandey, the medium pacer who had a dream debut against Tamil Nadu with a fifer.

He will have in company seamer Sahil Raj, apart from Roy and Rishav Raj.

“Jharkhand is also coming into this match on the back of a win and they are a good side. We will definitely play our brand of cricket mixing aggression with caution depending upon the situation. It will be a good match,” concluded Ghani.

Mokhade misses double ton Vidarbha in total control on Day 2

Special Correspondent

October 17, 2025

VIDARBHA opener Aman Mokhade missed a deserved double century but helped Vidarbha to a strong position on the second day of their Elite Group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match against lowly Nagaland at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru on Thursday.

Vidarbha posted 463 runs, thanks to Mokhade’s 183, and half centuries from Dhruv Shorey (64) and Yash Rathod (71), and then reduced Nagaland to 81-3 at the end of day’s play. Nagaland still trail by 382 runs with seven wickets in hand. Dega Nischal (32) and stumper Chetan Bist (26) added unbeaten 40 runs when the stumps were drawn.

Resuming at the overnight score of 302 for three, Vidarbha added another 161 runs with Mokhade missing his double ton by 17 runs and captain Akshay Wadkar putting up important 44. 

Overnight batter Rathod could add only five runs in the morning as he was sent back in the sixth over of the day when he edged one back to wicketkeeper Bist off Ronit More. Rathod and Mokhade’s partnership for the fourth wicket produced 157 runs. Mokhade, who batted strongly on the opening day, too, nicked one back to Bist off Dip Borah, after adding 38 runs for the fifth wicket with captain Wadkar (44).

Wadkar and Harsh Dubey (37) then stitched crucial 68 runs for the sixth wicket to take Vidarbha’s score past the 400-run mark. Both rotated the strike and picked easy runs as Nagaland failed to find any breakthrough.

Nagaland captain Rongsen Jonathan then took the mettle in his own hands and snared four Vidarbha wickets starting from the scalp of rival captain Wadkar. Jonathan spun the ball enough to find a gap between Wadkar’s bat and pad to disturb his stumps in the 122nd over. 

Vidarbha lost another in Darshan Nalkande in Jonathan’s next over with the scoreboard reading 432-7. Dubey managed 37 before being trapped in front by Saurav Kumar. Vidarbha tailenders Nachiket Bhute and Praful Hinge, the two bowling partners, threw their bats to put up an important 28 runs for the last wicket to take Vidarbha’s score to 463.

Vidarbha then reduced Nagaland to 81 for 3 with Nalkande getting Sedezhalie Rupero (6) caught by Praful Hinge. 

Rekhade trapped Yugandhar Singh (11) in front and then Hinge got Nagaland captain Jonathan (4) cheaply.

Mokhade, 148 and counting ...

Special Correspondent

October 16, 2025

VIDARBHA opener Aman Mokhade grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he hit an unbeaten century (148*) on opening day of their Ranji Trophy against lowly Nagaland on Wednesday.

The Centre of Excellence ground at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru was lit up with fine display of batting from 24-year-old Mokhade who batted for the whole day building partnerships with his colleagues to take Vidarbha’s score to 302-3 at stumps.

Mokhade has been so far a replacement player in his nascent career, either filling the position for Karun Nair or Danish Malewar last season. But he did not disappoint.

He showed hunger in the Irani Cup which Vidarbha won. Though he did not score big, his compact style of play at the top of the order impressed the three wise men and the coach to give him another opportunity.

Injury to Danish Malewar opened gates for Mokhade and the right-handed batter showed his class with a classy maiden First-Class century. His undefeated knock of 148 is so far laced with 13 boundaries from 261 deliveries.

He not only carried his bat through but also stitched partnerships which showed his ability to rotate strike.

Opening the innings, Mokhade and Atharva Taide (18) made a decent start putting up 48 runs before the latter was sent back by Saurav caught by Chetan Bist in the 19th over. 

Mokhade then added two over 100 runs partnerships which helped Vidarbha take a position of strength.

Mokhade and professional Dhruv Shorey (64) first put up 104 runs for the third wicket as Vidarbha took control of the game. Shorey, too, was looking good but was cleaned up by Tahmeed.

Though newcomer to the side Ravikumar Samarth (3), coming in at Number 4, could not make much of an impact, Mokhade and left-handed Yash Rathod made sure there was no more dent to their innings as they added an unconquered 143 runs partnership for the fourth wicket from 223 deliveries.

Rathod, who had hit a fine 91 in Irani Cup, was batting on 66 from 104 deliveries with five boundaries and a six.

With seven wickets intact and two well-set batters in the middle, Vidarbha will aim to bat Nagaland out with a huge first innings score. Mokhade, on the other hand, would aim to go for a double while Rathod will look for a chance of scoring his eighth First-Class century.

Champs Vidarbha start afresh

 

Special Correspondent

October 15, 2025

IT WILL be a fresh Ranji Trophy season and Vidarbha will enter the field with the tag of defending and three-time champions. The intensity will be at its highest when they open their campaign with an away game against Nagaland at Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from Wednesday.

The match was originally scheduled for Sovima in Nagaland but was shifted to Bengaluru.

Vidarbha are placed in Elite Group A along with Tamil Nadu, Baroda, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Nagaland and Andhra. The tournament will be held in two phases. The first phase will start from Wednesday and end on November 19. The second phase will commence from January 22, 2026 and conclude on February 26 with the mega final. High on confidence Vidarbha will try to go the distance once again.

The Akshay Wadkar-led side clinched the Ranji Trophy for the third time in March defeating Kerala on the basis of first innings lead at VCA Jamtha Stadium. To cap it all, they then emerged as the best team of the country by claiming Irani Cup last month at the same venue. But all those heroics of last season will come to a nought when they take fresh guard on Wednesday at the venue most of the players are familiar with. 

“We want to start strong. An outright win in the opening game would set the tone of the tournament for us,” said skipper Wadkar while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ from Bengaluru.

“Even though we would be playing Nagaland who were promoted from Plate Group, we won’t take them lightly. The positive for us is that some of us have played at this venue during the Duleep Trophy and knows the condition well. But we won’t get complacent and will try to win the game session by session,” explained Wadkar about team’s game plan.

At least six of Vidarbha players have played at the venue during the Duleep Trophy while representing Central Zone. To add to it, Vidarbha coach Usman Ghani, also coached the title winning Central Zone team and knows a thing or two about the CoE pitch. Vidarbha will have to be on their toes for the next five months aiming to extend their dominance in the premier domestic First-Class tournament of the country.

The selectors reposed faith in the bunch which won the Irani Cup. While Danish Malewar was ruled out due to shoulder injury, there is only one addition to the squad in Ravikumar Samarth, the professional who signed the dotted lines last month. 

The Karnataka player, who played for Uttarakhand last season, will replace Karun Nair in Vidarbha set-up.

His inclusion will bolster the top middle-order. The batters are in a rich form with left-handed opener Atharva Taide, bubbling with confidence after his 143 against Rest of India. Another southpaw, Taide’s club-mate, Yash Rathod, last season’s highest scorer, too, has showed his prowess and will love to continue in the same vein. The last Ranji season’s highest runs scorer, hit a fluent 94 in Vidarbha’s Irani Cup win over Rest of India. In Duleep Trophy, Rathod was the second highest scorer with 374 runs and will take that confidence going into the opening game. The line-up also has professional Dhruv Shorey, Aman Mokhade and captain Akshay Wadkar who will man the middle order.

The bowling unit will be spearheaded by spinner and last Ranji season’s highest wicket-taker of the tournament Harsh Dubey. He will have another dangerous spinner in Parth Rekhade. The pace department will be handled by Aditya Thakare, Yash Thakur and Darshan Nalkande with Praful Hinge and Nachiket Bhute always ready to step in when the need arises. 

Nagaland, one of the weakest sides of Elite Group A, will hope their batters Dega Nischal, Hem Chetri and Sedezhalie Rupero and all-rounders Dip Borah, Imliwati Lemtur and Rongsen Jonathan put up some runs on the board against a quality bowling attack. Their bowling department will have Nzanthung Mozhui, Ronit More, Tahmeed Rahman and Vino Zhimomi.

This might be a cake-walk for the defending champions Vidarbha but the Usman Ghani-coached team won’t take their opponents lightly.

They have a simple plan: to register outright wins and top the group.

Vidarbha squad: Akshay Wadkar (Captain & WK), Atharva Taide, Aman Mokhade, Danish Malewar, Yash Rathod (Vice-Captain), Harsh Dubey, Parth Rekhade, Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute, Darshan Nalkande, Aditya Thakare, Yash Kadam, Shivam Deshmukh (WK), Praful Hinge, Akshay Karnewar, Dhruv Shorey, R Samarth.

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Danish Malewar out for three weeks

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 15, 2025

VIDARBHA were dealt with a blow before the start of their Ranji season with in-form batter Danish Malewar being ruled out due to injury.

Malewar was initially named in the 17-member squad led by Akshay Wadkar but could not board the flight due to a shoulder injury.

“He did not join the team due to shoulder injury. I don’t know when he got injured but it has been informed that he will be out for three weeks,” Wadkar told ‘The Hitavada’.

Malewar was in explosive form during the Duleep Trophy amassing 352 runs. Playing for Central Zone, Malewar slammed 203 in the first match against North East Zone. In the next match against West, the right-handed batter hit a fine 76 and then cracked another half century (53) against South in the final.

“But our team is ready for the new season and all are fit for the opening game. Professional Ravikumar Samarth has joined the team and has been given a task. We are confident that all will give their 100 per cent,” said Wadkar.

Dubey is Domestic Cricketer of the Year

Special Correspondent

October 8, 2025

VIDARBHA and India A spinner Harsh Dubey has added another feather to his cap by winning the Domestic Cricketer of the Year award during the annual CEAT Cricket Ratings awards function that was held in Mumbai.

Dubey also took a selfie with legendary India batter and commentator Sunil Gavaskar on the awards night which was attended by top Indian cricketers including Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, to name a few.

The left-arm spinner from Nagpur has been in a roseate of form in the last 12 months. 

He became the highest wicket-taker in a season in Ranji Trophy history with 69 scalps. Add to that Dubey, who wants to be called as a ‘batting all-rounder’ scored 476 runs. His heroics with the ball and bat helped Vidarbha claim their third Ranji title in March this year. Dubey has been in tremendous form and has been the ‘go to man’ for his captain Akshay Wadkar.

The award shows his gentle rise in Indian domestic cricket. Dubey was also picked as a replacement for R Smaran by Sunrisers Hyderabad after he had went unsold in the auction.

The 22-year-old spinner made an immediate impact taking five wickets from three games he played including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli.

Dubey was also part of the India A squad which toured England and then played against Australia A last month.

A few days ago, Dubey snared six wickets in a match as Vidarbha thrashed Rest of India by 93 runs to clinch their third Irani Cup.

Dubey is in scheme of things of India selectors and is inching closer to fulfilling his dream of playing for the senior Indian team.

BEST OF INDIA

 Ranji champions Vidarbha beat Rest of India by 93 runs to clinch Irani Cup in style

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 5, 2025

THREE times Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha annexed their third Irani Cup on Sunday with an emphatic win over Rest of India.

The Akshay Wadkar-led side thrashed Rest of India by 93 runs to lay their hands on the coveted trophy here at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium on Sunday. Chasing 361, Rest of India were all out for 267, minutes before tea break, making it Vidarbha’s best-ever Irani Cup victory with an outright win.

Vidarbha last won back-to-back Irani Cup trophies in 2017-18 and 20-18-19 seasons under the leadership of now retired Faiz Fazal. They won their maiden trophy against the Karun Nair-led Rest of India on the basis of first innings lead and then retained the title against Ajinkya Rahane’s side, again on the basis of first innings lead at the same venue.

The third title was in sight on the fourth day itself when Vidarbha gave a mammoth target of 361 runs and then reduced Rest of India to 30-2 at the end of the day. 

Rest of India needed to show their batting skills but barring Yash Dhull (92) and Manav Suthar (56*), there was hardly any notable performance. There was a phase when Dhull had two fruitful partnerships for the sixth and seventh wickets, first with Saransh Jain (29) of 53 runs and then with Suthar of 104 runs which frustrated the home team but the target was too steep to be achieved. Vidarbha desperately needed a breakthrough as Dhull and Suthar batted for nearly two hours (117 minutes) and were looking dangerous. 

In came pacer Yash Thakur who did the job for the hosts igniting a wild celebration. He fired in a short delivery and Dhull went for an upper cut only to see Atharva Taide grabbing the ‘match-winning’ catch inches inside from the boundary rope. 

The dismissal was followed by Thakur and Dhull nearly coming to exchanging blows after the former had given the batter a rather rude send-off. Both the umpires and Vidarbha players calmed things separating the two.

The very next delivery, Thakur darted in another peach of a delivery finding new man Anshul Kamboj’s (0) furniture disturbed.

Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 30-2 Rest of India lost captain Rajat Patidar (10) in the fifth over of the morning, returning a simple catch to Aditya Thakare.

Darshan Nalkande, who scored a valuable 35 runs on the fourth day, forced another star batter Ruturaj Gaikwad (7) to nick one behind to wicketkeeper Wadkar in his fourth over of the day. Harsh Dubey, last season highest wicket taker in Ranji Trophy with 69 scalps, then got Ishan Kishan (35) who went for a shot over mid-wicket only to find Parth Rekhade collecting an easy catch. The inevitable was delayed by Jain and Dhull who stitched a half-century partnership from 66 deliveries but Rekhade spun his delivery enough to trap the former in front in the 37th over. The batter went for review but the decision went in Vidarbha’s favour. Dhull meanwhile, continued to hold one end with his gritty batting and along with Suthar took their side near the target. His threatening knock from 117 deliveries had eight boundaries and a six. But his wicket opened the floodgates and Vidarbha cruised home in 73.5 overs.

SCOREBOARD

VIDARBHA 1ST INNINGS 342

REST OF INDIA 1ST INNINGS 214

VIDARBHA 2ND INNINGS 232

REST OF INDIA 2ND INNINGS

(overnight 30-2)

A Easwaran lbw b Dubey 17

A Juyal b Thakare 6

I Kishan c Rekhade b Dubey 35

R Patidar c&b Thakare 10

R Gaikwad c Wadkar b Nalkande 7

Y Dhull c Taide b Thakur 92

S Jain lbw b Rekhade 29

M Suthar Not Out 56

A Kamboj b Thakur 0

A Deep b Dubey 3

G Brar c Taide b Dubey 7

Extras: (lb 1, nb 1, w 3) 5

TOTAL: (All out, 73.5 overs) 267

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-24, 3-52, 

4-64, 5-80, 6-133, 7-237, 

8-237, 9-249.

Bowling: Dubey 27.5-5-73-4, 

Thakare 11-1-27-2, Rekhade 

18-1-59-1, Thakur 7-1-47-2, 

Nalkande 10-1-60-1.

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Our bowling unit is best in the country: Wadkar

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 5, 2025

THREE-TIME Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup winners Vidarbha took 20 Rest of India wickets which helped them emerge the champion on Sunday at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium and captain Akshay Wadkar praised his young bowling unit saying it is the best in the country.

Vidarbha drubbed star-studded Rest of India by 93 runs to lift their third Irani Cup trophy. 

Captain Wadkar heaped praise on his bowlers and said, “I think Vidarbha’s bowling unit is the best in the country. I have confidence in all my bowlers. If the target is of 200 runs, I am sure that my bowlers would destroy opponent team inside 150 runs.”

Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey took six wickets each in the match while Aditya Thakare and Parth Rekhade took three each. Darshan Nalkande chipped in with two wickets, one in each innings.

Wadkar was over the moon winning the title for the third time, twice as a player and now as the captain of the side and said that all the three wins have different level of satisfaction. 

Wadkar was part of the maiden Irani Cup win under Faiz Fazal in 2017-18 and again in 2018-19. When asked as to which one was more satisfying, the soft-spoken wicketkeeper-batter said, “every title win has a different level of satisfaction. When we won the first Irani Cup, it was a learning process for me, obviously I am still learning... But this time the responsibility was on my shoulder as I was playing with my juniors. It was my responsibility as a captain to guide all my team-mates.”

The previous two title wins came with stalwarts including Wasim Jaffer, R Satish, Faiz but this win came with most of the juniors in the squad and Wadkar lauded his brigade. “This is a very young team and the boys are quick learners. They enjoy learning new things and give their heart out while on the field,” he said.

On the first innings total, Wadkar felt that it was a bit less. “I think we could have scored 400 plus runs but cricket is  game of glorious uncertainties. We don’t get what we want. In final, or in any big match, whatever runs you put on the board it is not enough. The thing is whatever runs your team has scored, you have to learn to defend that total,” stated Wadkar.

The Vidarbha skipper also lauded Atharva Taide’s innings. “He grind well after those three chances he got. He played a great innings. He took time to take team to a decent total,” Wadkar concluded.

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We’ll be a good challenge in new season, says Ghani

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 5, 2025

VIDARBHA coach Usman Ghani is on a title-winning spree. His title-clinching act started with Ranji Trophy, moved to lifting Duleep Trophy for Central Zone and ended with Irani Cup with Vidarbha. 

Of the three, the Irani Cup still hold its significance for Vidarbha and Ghani said they desperately wanted this one.

“Very much, very much (its significant) because it shows that when one wins Ranji Trophy, it is not a fluke. So, it shows that our team is a good side and for the coming season, we are going to be a good challenge to all our opponents. So, Irani proves a lot that still we are there in the reckoning for the next season.”

Ghani said that the six months between Ranji Trophy and Irani Trophy was preparation time for the team. “When the Ranji Trophy ends, we start preparing for the next year. Our planning starts from the moment the season ends, we start planning regarding our boys and our matches and this is how we go,” explained Ghani.

The coach said the support staff has worked hard on Atharva Taide when he was out of form.

“Last year, he didn’t get the final. Unfortunately, we had to drop him because he was not scoring runs and he was not fulfilling his role. So, the moment the season ended, we started working on him. He is a very competitive guy and he gave his 100%. We worked on his technique,” he stated.

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Thakur changed the game for us: Taide

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 5, 2025

Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide, who scored the only century of the Irani Cup match which his side won by beating Rest of India by 93 runs credited Yash Thakur for changing the complexion of the match by taking the wicket of Yash Dhull.

“The game was really in the balance at that time and Yash (Dhull) was really playing well at that time. But Yash Thakur came and changed the game for us,” said Taide, who was named player of the match.

Dhull scored a brilliant 92 and had a couple of good partnerships which threatened the hosts. But Taide took his catch on the boundary line which tilted the match in Vidarbha’s favour.

On his own performance in the match after not so good last season, Taide said, “Last season did not went as I expected but this season I prepared (myself) very well. I have prepared myself for my team and....starting the season with the Irani Cup Trophy in the bag...won’t have been a better start to the season.

“This performance is for all those who backed me, my coach, my team, selectors and everybody,” Taide mentioned.

Taide got three lives in the first innings of the match and he capitalised on that hitting a fine 143. “That’s what I have learnt from playing First Class cricket in these many years. You have to score runs on the day when you are not timing the ball well, when you are not in the best shape. In earlier innings, I was feeling well and I was timing the ball well so... I learnt that I have to grind well and have to wait for the chance. In this match (after three lives) when I got the chances I capitalise.”

Taide and his club-mate Yash Rathod (91) added 184 runs for fourth wicket which helped Vidarbha post 342 in first innings. Taide praised his partner for easing the pressure.

“Once Rathod came in, he timed the ball well and that helped me play at my pace. He took the pressure from me and was rotating the strike well. That really helped me,” said Taide.

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Vidarbha deserved this win, says Patidar

October 5, 2025

By Paritosh Pramanik

Rest of India captain rued missing the opportunity and gave full credit to Vidarbha team for winning the Irani Cup.

“I think Vidarbha played really well and deserved to win this trophy. In first inning, they grabbed the opportunity. Yash (Rathod) and (Atharva) Taide batted really well. I think their partnership made a huge difference,” said Patidar after the match.

Patidar felt that restricting Vidarbha at 342 in the first innings was good but his batters could not take the capitalise. “I think it was enough (342) as we have that kind of ability and that kind of players to score around 400-500 runs on this track. But I think today we were not...I think they played better cricket than us,” Patidar said.

Patidar was not happy with the way they batted in the first innings where they were bundled out for 214.

“If we have applied ourselves in a good way, by assessing the condition and assessing the wicket I think we could have been close to the total,” he concluded.

Vidarbha lift Irani Cup

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 5, 2025

Vidarbha have made it a habit of winning Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup every time they lift country’s premier domestic State championship.

The three-time Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha defeated Rest of India by a comfortable 97-run margin to clinch their third Irani Cup here at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium on Sunday.

It was a clinical performance from the Akshay Wadkar-led side who dominated all five days of the encounter. 

They posted 342 runs in the first innings thanks to a fine century by left-handed opener Athrava Taide (143) and 91 from southpaw Yash Rathod. Vidarbha bowlers then restricted Rest of India at 214 with Yash Thakur snaring four wickets while spinners Harsh Dubey and Parth  Rekhade chipping in with two each. 

In their second innings, Vidarbha added 232 to give Rest of India a target of 361. Yash Dhull tried his best with a fighting 92 but Vidarbha bowlers struck back with precision. 

Left-arm spinner Dubey spun his web taking four scalps on a detonating fifth day track while pacers Aditya Thakare and Thakur grabbed two each to bundle out Rest of India at 267.

On Cusp of Glory

Vidarbha need eight wickets to win third Irani Cup

Chasing mammoth 361, Rest of India are 30-2

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 4, 2025

VIDARBHA captain wicketkeeper-batter Akshay Wadkar (36) and birthday-boy Darshan Nalkande (35) blunted the Rest of India’s bowling attack with gritty batting and took their side closer to title on the fourth day of their Irani Cup match on Saturday here at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium. 

Wadkar played the rescue act along with the taienders as Vidarbha’s last three batters put up an important 77 runs to take the match away from Rest of India. Despite a middle order-collapse in the morning, Vidarbha managed to score 232 in the second innings giving an imposing target of 360 to Rest of India. The Rajat Patidar-led side knocked off 30 runs but lost both its openers in 12 overs when the stumps were drawn for the day due to bad light. 

They still need another 331 for an outright win while Vidarbha need eight wickets to clinch their third Irani Cup.

Rest of India would have been in deep trouble had Danish Malewar not spilled three chances. He first dropped Abhimanyu Easwaran on successive deliveries at slips in the first over of the innings bowled by Harsh Dubey and in the next over failed to gather another one off Aditya Thakare, again in slips.

Still, Vidarbha ended the day taking the wickets of Aryan Juyal who was cleaned up by Aditya Thakare and Abhimanyu Easwaran who was trapped in front by Dubey. 

Earlier, Wadkar played a captain’s knock of 36 runs from 125 deliveries. He first bailed out his side from a precarious 105-5 and then added crucial runs with lower-order batters to take the team to a respectable total.

Wadkar lowered his guard and batted with patience to take the team’s total lead cross 300-run mark. Nalkande, who turned 27 on Saturday, showed immense maturity while batting lower down the order scoring an important 35 runs which assisted Ranji champions Vidarbha swell the lead to 359.

Resuming at an overnight score of 96 for two, with a handy overall lead of 224, Vidarbha lost Danish Malewar (16), Yash Rathod (5) and Dhruv Shorey (27) in first 30 minutes and 28 deliveries. Staying put in the middle was the need of the hour and Wadkar did the same with Harsh Dubey (29). The run flow dried from one end but Dubey, occasionally hit boundaries (3) and a couple of sixes to stretch Vidarbha’s lead.

However, while going for an upper cut shot, Dubey fell victim to Gurnoor Brar’s short pitched delivery giving an easy catch to Saransh Jain at third man boundary. The two added crucial 39 runs for the sixth wicket. Meanwhile, Wadkar continued to frustrate Rest of India bowlers playing a ‘dead bat’. Nalkande joined Wadkar in the middle and the two added 35 runs for the eighth wicket. 

Rest of India immediately took the new ball and Anshul Kamboj gave the breakthrough in Wadkar’s scalp. The Vidarbha captain chased a delivery, trying to slash it and ended up giving a simple catch to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. 

In RoI second essay, Vidarbha bowlers were right on the money but for Malewar who had a bad day in slips. But lanky pacer Thakare gave Vidarbha breakthrough with the wicket of Aryan Juyal off a beautiful delivery which moved enough to miss the batter’s bat and rattled the stumps.

Dubey then trapped Yash Dhull in front to give Vidarbha second wicket. With the final day pitch crumbling, it would be just a matter of time for Vidarbha to lift their third Irani Cup on Sunday.

It’s advantage Vidarbha

 Yash Thakur snares four as hosts take lead over Rest of India 

By Paritosh Pramanik

Oct 3, 2025

VIDARBHA needed to showcase their best talent in the Irani Cup which, many still feel, is the launch-pad to make a comeback for a few, and a stepping stone to graduate to the India squad. It is one of the platforms, where 

performance is taken into consideration. 

Grabbing the opportunity, 26-year-old Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur (4-66), impressed all with his pace and accuracy, helping the Ranji Trophy champions take an important first innings lead on the third day of Irani Cup match here at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium.

Thakur’s four wickets, three of which came on the third day at an economy rate of 3.92, broke Rest of India’s back as they were bundled out for 214 in the morning, giving Vidarbha a 128-run first innings lead. When bad light stopped play an over after tea, and no play was possible after that, the overall lead was swelled further to 224 with Vidarbha adding 96-2 in their second essay to take the driver’s seat.

Dhruv Shorey (24*) and Danish Malewar (16*) were the two unbeaten Vidarbha batters.

The two-time Irani Cup champions Vidarbha posted 342 in their first innings and then reduced Rest of India to 142-5 on the second evening (Thursday). They then took just over one-and-a-half-hour to clean up the remaining five batters on Friday; despite captain Rajat Patidar’s fighting 66.

It was a perfect start for Vidarbha on the third morning with seamer Aditya Thakare trapping overnight batter Manav Suthar (1) on the first ball of the day. Thakur then took the mettle forcing an early finish of Rest of India’s innings. 

He cleaned up Saransh Jain with a toe-crushing yorker and then got the wicket of Akash Deep (10) who was throwing his bat to collect quick runs. 

A well-targetted short of length delivery to Deep was ballooned towards Atharva Taide who ran in a few yards from covers to 

grab it.

Patidar was left stranded at the other end as wickets fell around him. He did manage to add a half century to his CV, but premier Vidarbha spinner Harsh Dubey, who has a knack of getting ‘big fish’, forced the batter to go for a huge heave. Patidar miscued it and Yash Rathod grabbed it at the long off region. Their innings folded at 214 with the wicket of Gurnoor Brar giving Thakur his fourth scalp.

Vidarbha started well in the second essay but Taide looked in a hurry as he stepped out only to give a simple catch to Deep off Suthar. Aman Mokhade once again showed his compact batting skills. 

But the talented opener, who is playing only his eighth First-Class match, failed to fully connect a short-pitched delivery and got a faint edge off Brar. Dhruv Shorey (24*) and Danish Malewar (16*) then took the lead to 224 runs. 

Left’s right for Vidarbha

Southpaws Taide (118*), Rathod (91) guide Ranji champions to 280-5 on Day 1 against Rest of India

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 1, 2025

VIDARBHA were saved by two left-handers. Opener Atharva Taide (118*) and his club-mate since age-group days middle-order bat Yash Rathod (91), both southpaws, batted with calm, composure and command to lift Vidarbha from a precarious position on opening day of their Irani Cup match here at VCA’s Jamtha Stadium on Wednesday.

Taide made most of the reprieves he got in the morning while Rathod continued his roseate form as the duo helped Vidarbha reach a respectable total after captain Akshay Wadkar decided to bat first. The two added crucial 184 runs for the fourth wicket to help Ranji champions Vidarbha reach 280 for 5 at stumps. Taide and night-watchman Yash Thakur (4) were at the crease at the end of day’s play.

Taide, who was dropped thrice in the morning, twice by butter-fingered wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan and once by Abhimanyu Easwaran at slips, apart from being bowled (first ball) off a no ball, showed maturity in his batting, hitting a morale boosting century ahead of the new Ranji season.

Taide was ignored for the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala after scoring 4 and 0 against Mumbai in the semis. The left-handed batter worked hard during the off season to regain his form. 

“I have been working hard on my batting but for couple of seasons its not working out. I am not doing anything different. I am believing in myself. I don’t let frustration creep in. I try to keep myself calm,” Taide told ‘The Hitavada’ after his unbeaten knock.

It wasn’t an easy start for Taide who found it a bit difficult to bat on in the morning. He was bowled first ball by pacer Akash Deep only to see the bowler over stepping the line.

There were a few mishits and some edges as he tried to build his innings. His struggle and two wickets (Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar) in space of two deliveries by left-arm spinner Manav Suthar put Vidarbha under immense pressure. 

In came Rathod and the two started the repair job. With Rathod at the other end, Taide got relieved. He knew what Rathod was capable of. Rathod’s presence gave him time to adjust under the bright sun.

As the day progressed, the wicket eased out. Rathod took the mettle to score quick runs while Taide found gaps to hit occasional boundaries. 

“We did not talk much in the middle. We both know each other since our age group days. We have played a lot together. Yash knows how to pace the innings. That helped me in my batting. With him scoring bulk of runs, my pressure was released,” said Taide of their 184 runs stand for the fourth wicket which resurrected Vidarbha’s innings.

The two left-handed batters made light work of Rest of India’s bowling. Taide was in no hurry while Rathod, who scored 374 runs in Duleep Trophy for champions Central Zone, found easy gaps cutting the bowlers comfortably. 

Rathod, Ranji Trophy’s highest scorer with 960 runs, picked up occasional boundaries. Rest of India’s bowlers’ shoulders dropped as the two 25-year-olds swelled their partnership. 

The Vidarbha opener completed his century with a long-on six off Suthar in the 67th over.

Rathod moved into 90s with a six over long-on off the same bowler but threw his wicket very next delivery going for another big heave giving a simple catch to Gurnoor Brar.

Rest of India took the new ball immediately and Akash Deep gave them breakthrough forcing Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar (5) poke one behind to Kishan. But Taide stood firm till the end of the day and will come back on the morrow fresh for another big one.

“We want to bat as long as we can tomorrow. The wicket has eased out. There’s no set total but we want to bat long and see where we (total) reach,” Taide said.

For Rest of India southpaw Suthar was the most successful bowler with three wickets while Akash Deep, making return to competitive cricket after an injury lay-off, took two.

Vidarbha aim to be Best of India

Take on Rest of India in Irani Cup match at Jamtha

By Paritosh Pramanik

October 1, 2025

DEFENDING Ranji Trophy champions Vidarbha will aim to extend their supremacy in domestic cricket when they take on Rest of India in the season opener Irani Cup match at Vidarbha Cricket Association’s Jamtha Stadium from Wednesday.

The Akshay Wadkar-led side, which won their third Ranji title in March at the same venue defeating Kerala on the basis of first innings lead, will be eager to start on a positive note ahead of the new domestic season.

The Rest of India will be led by experienced and seasoned leader Madhya Pradesh’s Rajat Patidar. 

Patidar is on a roll while leading sides. He has helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift their maiden IPL title and then escorted Central Zone clinch the Duleep Trophy a few weeks ago.

But facing Vidarbha will be all-together different challenge for Patidar as Vidarbha cricketers are high on confidence and have enough matches under their belts after the Ranji title victory. 

As many as seven cricketers were part of the title winning Central Zone team while the remaining had a good outing in the Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy in Bengaluru a few days ago. To top it all, last Ranji season’s highest wicket-taker 

spinner Harsh Dubey (with 69 scalps) and Yash Thakur have gained a lot of experience while representing India A against Australia A.  Vidarbha have match winning batters in Vice-Captain Yash Rathod and Danish Malewar who both showed their batting prowess in Duleep Trophy. Professional Dhruv Shorey, with 4885 First-Class runs under his belt will man the top order along with Atharva Taide (1825) while captain Wadkar (3905) will be an important cog in the middle order. 

The bowling department will be spearheaded by pacer Aditya Thakare who has 112 wickets in his bag followed by Dubey with 111 First-Class scalps till date. 

Rest of India, too, have some of the top cricketers with Patidar leading from the front. The batter starred for Central Zone slamming two centuries and as many fifties in five innings. His deputy Ruturaj Gaikwad, though skipped the nets session on Tuesday but will be fit to take the field on the morrow and would look to impressing the selectors for the red-ball season ahead.

Ishan Kishan, seamers Khaleel Ahmed and Akash Deep, spinners Tanush Kotian, Saransh Jain are some others in what looks like a strong squad on paper.

All in all Vidarbha hold the edge here at Jamtha Stadium as they have won Irani Cup twice, first in 2017-18 season and then defended the title next year (2018-19).

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It’s going to be a challenging match, says Patidar

By Paritosh Pramanik

Rest of India captain heaped praise on Vidarbha team and said the hosts have several match-winning performers and admitted that it will be a challenging encounter.

“It’s going to be a challenging match. Vidarbha have been an excellent red-ball team and have several experienced players. I’ve played with some of them in the Duleep Trophy, so I know the quality they bring. It won’t be easy, but that’s what makes it exciting.”

Patidar refused to buy the theory of Vidarbha having home advantage and said his experienced side has players who have played all over the country.

“I don’t look at it as an advantage or disadvantage. Yes, they know the conditions better, but players in the Rest of India team have played all over the country and understand different pitches well. So, I don’t think it will be a major factor,” Patidar signed off.

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Our only objective is to win the match: Wadkar

By Paritosh Pramanik

Having won the Ranji title with aplomb, Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar wants to extend his side’s dominance with victory in the one-off Irani Cup match starting Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper-batter Wadkar enthused confidence during the pre-match presser and said his side is better prepared as compared to Rest of India and they have only one aim, to win the match.

“The only objective is to win the match. That’s going to be the mindset. Our batting group is in form. Danish, Yash and Dhruv are in very good nick and Harsh and Yash Thakur have arrived from India A responsibilities. I am confident it will be a good match,” said Wadkar.

The Vidarbha skipper said that his side is much better prepared and Rest of India will need time to find right combination.

“Our team-bonding is far better than Rest of India’s since they have grouped from various states of India. It will obviously take some time for them to work out the combinations. We have a slight advantage in this regard,” he pointed out.

Wadkar said Vidarbha will definitely have the advantage while going into the match. 

“We have been playing on this very ground for a while now and know these conditions for years. We have played last season’s Ranji matches against Gujarat, Mumbai, Kerala... so we are used to this environment. We will obviously enjoy 

the home advantage in that regard,” the Vidarbha captain concluded.

TEAMS: Vidarbha: Akshay Wadkar (C & WK), Yash Rathod (VC), Atharva Taide, Aman Mokhade, Danish Malewar, Harsh Dubey, Parth Rekhade, Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute, Darshan Nalkande, Aditya Thakare, Akshay Karnewar, Yash Kadam, Shivam Deshmukh (WK), Praful Hinge, Dhruv Shorey.

Rest of India: Rajat Patidar (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Aryan Juyal (WK), Yash Dhull, Shaikh Rasheed, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Saransh Jain.

Live on JioStar Network. 

Kamptee footballer Asheer called for maiden India camp

 By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 20, 2025

ASHEER Akhtar is just a step away from fulfilling his dream of playing for the Indian football team.

The ‘Rock’ NorthEast United Football Club defender, who hails from Kamptee in Nagpur, has been summoned for the national football camp, to be conducted by head coach Khalid Jamil, for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore.

“In addition to the 30-member probables, Brandon Fernandes and Asheer Akhtar have been called up to the national camp,” the All India Football Federation (AIFF) posted on ‘X’ on Friday.

The national team’s preparatory camp is scheduled to begin in Bengaluru from Saturday.

Kamptee’s Asheer, son of former AG Office footballer Mehfooz Akhtar, has been knocking Indian team’s doors for quite some time. He has performed as per the expectations of the selectors.

North East United FC, of which Asheer is an integral part, has recently retained the prestigious Durand Cup winning it for the second time.

The club was elated at Asheer’s call-up for camp.

“National duty-bound. Our defensive Rock, Asheer Akhtar, is called-up for Indian senior men’s team camp for the October FIFA International Window. We’re super proud of you Asheer!!!’, the club posted congratulatory message on Instagram along with the footballer’s photo. 

After that title win, Asheer had said he is working hard to make it to Blue Tigers’ squad. “I want to wear India Blue. That is my ultimate dream and I am working hard to fulfil it,” Asheer had told ‘The Hitavada’ after lifting the Durand Cup.

With his inclusion in probables for the match against Singapore, Asheer is hoping to get into the final team. “Yes, I am a step away from fulfilling my dream. I will work much harder to achieve the feat,” Asheer told ‘The Hitavada’ from Bengaluru on Friday evening.

“I was waiting for this day for a long time. My hard work has been noticed. But I will have to put in more effort to make it to the final team,” said Asheer, who was enjoying a happy evening with his wife and son at his home in Guwahati when he received the call from AIFF.

“It will be a great learning experience during the camp. All the top footballers of the country will be there and I will get a lot to learn from them,” said Asheer who started his football career with MM Rabbani school and club.

An Indian team will be picked from this camp which will play two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round against Singapore (Oct 9) at the National Stadium and (Oct 14) at JN Stadium in Margao, Goa.