Image: Vidarbha’s Atharva Taide celebrates his impressive century on the opening day of the Irani Cup 2025 cricket encounter against Rest of India, held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium on October 1, 2025.
“I’m neither happy nor truly satisfied. It’s not the time for celebration. I’ll only feel content when we firmly take control of this game.” These were the humble words of Atharva Taide (143 runs, 283 minutes at the crease, 15 fours, 1 six) after the first day of the Irani Cup. The compact Vidarbha opener, who scored a patient century against the formidable Rest of India at Jamtha, spoke with a profound sense of composure and balance, rather than reveling in personal glory. Although his excellent innings came to an end on the second morning when he misjudged an arm-ball from off-spinner Saransh Jain, the match remains delicately poised.
This innings proved to be a pivotal moment for the left-handed batsman. Spending over eight hours at the crease was a powerful declaration of his renewed intent. Following a challenging previous season where he was even omitted from Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy final squad, Taide entered this season with a clear resolve to restart. Extensive hours dedicated to net practice had instilled confidence in his batting.
He openly admitted, “I’ve put in tremendous effort over the past two or three years, but the match results simply weren’t reflecting that. Naturally, frustration started to creep in.” He continued, explaining his mindset, “So, I made a conscious decision to keep faith in the process, avoid desperation, and crucially, not get carried away by any momentary success.”
On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, a blend of good fortune and unwavering focus presented him with the critical opportunity he desperately sought. Early in his innings, on just one run, Taide was clean bowled by Akash Deep, only to be recalled to the crease due to a no-ball. Shortly thereafter, a straightforward slip catch was put down when he was on 9 runs off Anshul Kamboj. Just before lunch, Ishan Kishan then misjudged a routine edge when Taide was on 36, again off Akash Deep. “Perhaps it was just my day after that no-ball,” he remarked, “but I knew I had to capitalize on those chances and bat for a significant period.”
The composed left-hander executed his plan perfectly. He batted cautiously during the first session, then steadily built his innings and found his rhythm while partnering with fellow left-hander Yash Rathod. His magnificent century, achieved with a powerful hit over long-on, wasn’t born from a desire for flashy strokes, but rather from a deep understanding of the match situation. “I don’t categorize myself as a flashy player or a pure accumulator,” he clarified. “My approach is always dictated by the game’s demands and what my team needs from me.”
For Vidarbha, Atharva Taide’s resurgence couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment. And for Taide personally, this hundred was more than just redemption; it was a profound reassertion of self-belief and confidence.