Vidarbha continued their remarkable unbeaten streak in Irani Cup clashes, triumphing over Rest of India by a significant 93 runs in a thrilling title match held at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday. This victory proudly marks their third championship win in this prestigious tournament.
Chasing a challenging target of 361 runs, Rest of India was ultimately bowled out for 267 during the second session on the fifth day. Yash Dhull was the highest scorer for his team with a resilient 92, while Manav Suthar also made a valuable contribution of 56 runs. However, Vidarbha’s bowling attack proved too strong, with left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey claiming an impressive 4 wickets for 73 runs, and pacer Yash Thakur adding 2 wickets for 47 runs, ensuring their team’s dominance throughout the match.
Rest of India had found themselves in a difficult position at 133 for six on the final morning. Despite this, Dhull and Suthar mounted a spirited fightback, forging a crucial 104-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Their defiant stand, however, came to an end when Thakur dismissed Dhull with a sharp catch taken by Atharva Taide at deep third man.
This pivotal dismissal ignited a tense moment on the field, with Thakur and Dhull nearly coming to blows after a heated send-off. Both the umpires and other Vidarbha players quickly intervened to defuse the situation. It is anticipated that the match referee will issue appropriate sanctions to the players involved.
Thakur, riding on the momentum, struck again immediately, removing Akash Deep. Soon after, Dubey efficiently wrapped up the remaining wickets, sealing a well-deserved victory for Vidarbha.
Vidarbha’s comprehensive all-round team effort was significantly bolstered by Atharva Taide, whose exceptional performance included scoring 143 runs in the first innings and taking the decisive catch to dismiss Dhull. His outstanding contributions earned him the coveted Player of the Match award.
Reflecting on his performance, Taide shared, “The last couple of seasons weren’t great for me. But this season, I prepared very well. I wanted to make an impact for my team, and starting the season with the Irani Cup couldn’t have been better. This evening is for VCA – for everybody, my coach, selector, and everyone who has backed me throughout the season.”
Rest of India skipper Rajat Patidar gracefully acknowledged Vidarbha’s superiority, stating, “Vidarbha played well and were deserving winners. If we had applied ourselves in a better way, after assessing the conditions, I think we could have come closer to the total.”
National selectors would also have closely observed the fitness of Akash Deep. He bowled an impressive 29 overs across both innings and claimed three wickets, showing a strong recovery from a shoulder injury he sustained during the Oval Test against England.
Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s struggles in crucial knock-out matches continued, despite his first-innings half-century. He was dismissed in both innings in a similar fashion, trapped plumb in front of the wickets by left-arm spinners.
Brief Scores:
Vidarbha: 342 & 232
Rest of India: 214 & 267 (chasing 361)
(Yash Dhull 92, Manav Suthar 56; Harsh Dubey 4/73, Yash Thakur 2/47)