Nagpur witnessed a pivotal shift in the Irani Cup as Vidarbha asserted complete dominance on Day 2. Under a sky that promised a late afternoon dimming, Manav Suthar delivered a ball that offered a tantalizing glimpse of the pitch’s life. Angling towards middle and leg, it spun viciously past Dhruv Shorey’s bat, kicking up a puff of dust. Even wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, taken aback by the turn, voiced his surprise. Until then, the pitch’s spin had been subtle, but that single moment foreshadowed a challenging period for the Rest of India (RoI) batters.
As the clouds thickened and natural light began to fade, Vidarbha remained composed. They ended the day with 96 for two, steadily extending their lead and tightening their grip on the coveted Irani Cup. By the time bad light forced the umpires to call stumps, the reigning Ranji champions had forged an impressive 224-run lead, putting them in a strong position.
The morning session had started precariously for RoI, resuming at 142 for five. Captain Rajat Patidar and bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar were the last beacons of hope. However, this hope was short-lived as Aditya Thakare, with a sharp and accurate delivery, successfully reviewed an LBW decision to dismiss Suthar on the very first ball of the day. This breakthrough ignited Vidarbha’s fast bowlers. Yash Thakur, bending his back, clean-bowled Saransh Jain with a pinpoint yorker, then induced Akash Deep into a mistimed slash that was safely caught in the covers. Patidar continued his defiant stand, showcasing elegant cover drives on his way to 66, but ultimately fell victim to Harsh Dubey’s guile, lofting a drive that found the hands of long-off.
With Yash Thakur completing his impressive spell with figures of 4 for 66, Rest of India’s innings crumbled to 214, conceding a substantial first-innings lead of 128 runs.
In their second innings, Vidarbha’s openers started briskly. However, first-innings centurion Atharva Taide departed cheaply this time, caught at deep midwicket off Suthar’s bowling. Aman Mokhade’s resolute innings also concluded with a misjudgment, his attempted hook against Gurnoor Brar softly edging to Kishan on the leg side. At 64 for two, the game momentarily seemed open, but Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar quickly re-established control, their gritty partnership steadying Vidarbha as the day concluded under the increasingly gloomy skies.
For Rest of India, the challenge now shifts from seeking a revival to simply enduring. With eight wickets still in hand and a considerable cushion of runs, Vidarbha is feeling increasingly confident that their third Irani Cup title is well within reach.
Brief scores: Vidarbha 342 & 96/2 in 36 overs (Aman Mokhade 37) vs Rest of India 214 in 69.5 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 52, Rajat Patidar 66, Yash Thakur 4/66).