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.