By Paritosh Pramanik
Nagpur, Sept 17, 2025
A COACH’S job at the top level is more of a mental aspect.
Same was the success mantra of Duleep Trophy winning coach Vidarbha’s Usman Ghani.
He wanted to get the best out of his boys with his style of coaching. Ghani, coach of 2024-25 Ranji title winner Vidarbha, was an elated man after Central Zone claimed the Duleep Trophy after a hiatus of 11 years.
Ghani gave all the credit to his wards for producing a title winning performance.
“It’s up to the boys, if they do well, credit comes to the coach as well. Credit to them only,” said Ghani while talking with ‘The Hitavada’ after the title victory, from Bengaluru.
Central Zone defeated South by six wickets to lift the trophy just before lunch on the fifth day.
“My job as a coach is to get the best out of them and that’s what I try to do. There is no mantra. All I want is to keep it super simple. I just want to get into their hearts and want players to give their best as individuals,” he said.
The Central Zone team was a Vidarbha-heavy side with seven players playing the three games and four always in the playing XI. That made it a lot easier for coach Ghani as these four including Danish Malewar (Best Striker of the Tournament), Yash Rathod (Player of the final), Akshay Wadkar (who was added later in the squad) and Aditya Thakare know what the coach expected from them.
Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur, who both were picked for India A series against Australia A, were also part of the squad. Pacer Nachiket Bhute was added for the final as well.
“It was relatively easy to coach this side as there were several players from Vidarbha. It was easier to handle a state team. The players are professionals, they know what I want from them and what they need to do. The higher you go, the easier it is to execute your plans,” explained Ghani who was also coach of India C team last Duleep season.
The coach was highly impressed with the way Malewar presented himself.
Malewar slammed a double century (203) against North East Zone in the quarter-finals. “He is a very sincere guy even in practice sessions. Whatever routine is given, he follows it to the ‘T’.
“He is mentally very strong because of the routines he follows. He is focused and talented as well and he is maturing and adapting things at the higher level quickly,” Ghani said in praise of Malewar adding, “In Ranji final also he had given a strong performance.”
Malewar was made to open the innings and he passed the ‘test’ with flying colours.
“Though it was not his position (to open) to bat, he performed the job with aplomb. With the team combination, I told him to open the innings and he accepted the challenge. He wanted to play at any position...he is a bright prospect and the ‘goal’ (of playing for the country) is not far,” Ghani predicted.
The Vidarbha coach was also full of praise for Rathod who scored 374 runs to emerge as the second highest scorer in Duleep Trophy this season.
“Rathod’s innings were brilliant. He is a consistent performer and is working hard to get into India A squad. Even pacer Yash Thakur is doing well. We have a good bunch of players who are knocking the India door. We are winning the tournaments but our players are not getting an India berth...so we are focusing on that only. We want our players to play the IPL and also for the country. After Umesh (Yadav) there is nobody (in India colour). Hopefully things will change now,” said Ghani who joined the Vidarbha team which is playing K Thimmappiah Memorial Tournament in Bengaluru.
While Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur got India A call-up, Rathod was ignored but Ghani felt that the left-handed batter is in the selectors’ scheme of things.
“Rathod will definitely get a chance to play for India A. There are many A tours lined up and I am sure he will be picked. Even Danish has staked claim with his consistent performance. These players’ performance will be definitely recognised by the BCCI. The selectors are making a pool of 30-40 players and Vidarbha cricketers are also in the scheme of things. The selectors have already targetted players like Dubey, Thakur and Rathod. They are already in their radar and now Malewar has also joined them.”
Ghani surprised all by using Wadkar as an opener who did perform well in his new batting position.
“Selectors gave me Wadkar as a replacement after Yash Juyal and Dhruv Jurel got injured. Wadkar had done well in Ranji Trophy so they (selectors) picked him. There was only the opener’s slot vacant and I asked him whether he would open? He replied in affirmative and said ‘I want to bat at any position’. And he proved himself. He got set but got out to a peach of a delivery which came back very sharply,” Ghani recalled.
With Duleep title in the bag, Vidarbha players will now concentrate on taking on Rest of India in Irani Trophy which will be held in Nagpur from October One.
“The preparation has already started. We are ready for the challenge from the best cricketers of the country,” concluded Ghani.
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