Ranji Trophy 2025: Vidarbha clinched their third Ranji Trophy title in seven years, reaffirming their dominance in Indian domestic cricket. The 2025 final, held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur from February 26 to March 2, saw them triumph over Kerala based on a first-innings lead.
Despite losing the toss, Vidarbha capitalized on home conditions, with standout performances from Karun Nair and Harsh Dubey.
Vidarbha’s Journey To the Ranji Trophy 2025 Trophy
Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy 2025 campaign was nothing short of spectacular, culminating in their third title in seven years. From dominating the group stage to overcoming tough challenges in the knockout rounds, Vidarbha displayed consistency, resilience, and tactical brilliance. Let’s take a look at their journey to the championship.
Group Stage Performance
Vidarbha was placed in Elite Group B, alongside formidable teams like Mumbai, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. The team started their campaign with strong performances, ensuring qualification for the quarterfinals as one of the top teams in their group.
Group Stage Results
| Match | Opponent | Result | Key Performers |
| Match 1 | Mumbai | Won by 7 wickets | Yash Rathod (120), Harsh Dubey (6/43) |
| Match 2 | Delhi | Won by 10 wickets | Karun Nair (142), Akshay Wakhare (5/52) |
| Match 3 | Tamil Nadu | Draw | Faiz Fazal (88), Darshan Nalkande (4/38) |
| Match 4 | Uttar Pradesh | Won by 5 wickets | Jitesh Sharma (91), Rajneesh Gurbani (5/65) |
| Match 5 | Punjab | Won by innings and 45 runs | Danish Malewar (172), Harsh Dubey (7/39) |
Vidarbha topped their group, remaining unbeaten with four wins and one draw. Their bowlers, especially Harsh Dubey and Akshay Wakhare, played a crucial role, while Karun Nair and Danish Malewar were consistent with the bat.
Quarterfinal: Vidarbha vs Karnataka
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Result: Vidarbha won by 6 wickets
Vidarbha faced a tough challenge against Karnataka in the quarterfinals. Karnataka, led by Mayank Agarwal, posted 323 in the first innings. Vidarbha responded with 365, thanks to Yash Rathod’s gritty 129. Harsh Dubey’s five-wicket haul in the second innings restricted Karnataka to 251, leaving Vidarbha with a target of 210. Despite some early jitters, Karun Nair (74*) anchored the chase, leading Vidarbha into the semifinals.
Semifinal: Vidarbha vs Mumbai
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Result: Vidarbha won by 4 wickets
Mumbai, the most successful team in Ranji Trophy history, posed a formidable challenge. Batting first, Mumbai scored 410, powered by Sarfaraz Khan’s 155. Vidarbha responded strongly with 437, with Faiz Fazal (102) and Jitesh Sharma (86) leading the charge.
In the second innings, Harsh Dubey (6/71) and Rajneesh Gurbani (3/42) ripped through Mumbai’s batting, restricting them to 198. Chasing 172, Vidarbha lost early wickets but Karun Nair (62*) and Akshay Wadkar (39*) held their nerves to guide the team to victory.
Final Showdown: Vidarbha vs Kerala
Match Overview
Date: February 26 – March 2, 2025
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur
Opposition: Kerala
Toss: Kerala won the toss and elected to field first.
Day-by-Day Summary
Day 1
Vidarbha, opting to bat first, faced early setbacks, losing three quick wickets. However, a resilient 215-run partnership between Danish Malewar (153) and Karun Nair (86) stabilized the innings, guiding Vidarbha to a respectable total by day’s end.
Day 2
Continuing their innings, Vidarbha posted a total of 379. Kerala’s response was steady, with contributions from their top order, reaching 200 for the loss of four wickets by the close of play.
Day 3
Kerala’s captain, Sachin Baby, played a pivotal role, nearing a century. However, his dismissal at 98 shifted the momentum. Kerala was eventually bowled out for 342, giving Vidarbha a crucial 37-run first-innings lead.
Day 4
Vidarbha’s second innings saw Karun Nair leading with an unbeaten 135. Supported by Danish Malewar’s 73 and Darshan Nalkande’s 51*, Vidarbha extended their lead significantly, finishing the day at 375/9.
Day 5
With a lead surpassing 400, Vidarbha declared, and the match concluded in a draw, securing their championship based on the first-innings advantage.
Prize Money
Vidarbha earned ₹5 crore in prize money as the BCCI approved this amount for domestic tournaments during its April 2023 announcement. Kerala will collect ₹3 crore following their position as the final runner-up during the competition.
Farewell to Akshay Wakhare
The last match witnessed senior player Akshay Wakhare officially retire from First-Class cricket through a moving retirement announcement. Right-arm spinner Wakhare represented his team in 105 matches while collecting 344 wickets.
The elite domestic teams in India now recognize Vidarbha as a force because of their strategic planning and their team members’ outstanding abilities. The team’s complete journey acts as inspiration which shows the significance of resilience together with preparation alongside teamwork in maintaining lasting achievements.
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