Despite commendable partnerships forged by Yash Dhull alongside all-rounders Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar, the Delhi prodigy’s fierce counterattack merely postponed the inevitable. A formidable Vidarbha squad ultimately showcased their dominance, clinching their third Irani Cup title on Sunday with a well-orchestrated team performance.
The victory was a testament to Vidarbha’s collective bowling strength, with all five of their bowlers contributing vital wickets. A standout moment arrived when Yash Thakur snared the crucial wicket of Dhull, who had crafted a brilliant 92 runs off 117 balls, featuring 8 fours and a six, amidst a heated exchange between the players. This decisive dismissal helped Vidarbha bowl out Rest of India for 267, just moments before the tea interval on the thrilling final day.
This commanding 93-run triumph further solidified Vidarbha’s remarkable record, extending their impressive streak of achieving both the Ranji Trophy and Irani Cup double whenever they have lifted the prestigious domestic championship.
Rest of India began the day precariously positioned at 30 for two, chasing a daunting target of 361. However, within the first hour of play, the match’s fate seemed sealed as Vidarbha quickly dismantled the much-fancied RoI batting order, reducing them to a struggling 80 for five.
Rajat Patidar, the RoI captain, was the first to depart, offering a straightforward return catch to the tall Aditya Thakare early in the fifth over. Ruturaj Gaikwad followed soon after, registering his second single-digit score of the match by edging a perfectly pitched delivery from pacer Darshan Nalkande. Ishan Kishan’s dismissal, caught in the deep off Harsh Dubey’s spin, further tightened Vidarbha’s grip, making a comfortable victory seem imminent.
It was then that Yash Dhull launched an aggressive counterattack, finding a resilient partner in the left-handed Saransh Jain. Dhull’s exquisite cut shots, executed against both pacers and spinners, were a delight to behold until Jain ultimately misjudged a delivery that sharply turned into him from Parth Rekhade, Vidarbha’s other left-arm spinner.
As the ball softened, Dhull began to take calculated risks, which paid dividends, keeping RoI’s hopes alive. Manav Suthar, his new partner, also batted with remarkable ease, contributing an unbeaten 56 runs off 113 balls, including 4 fours and a six.
However, just as their partnership soared past the century mark and Dhull edged into the nineties, a moment of over-ambition cost him dearly. Attempting an upper-cut for six off a short, wide delivery, Dhull saw Atharva Taide sprint several steps to his right at deep third man. Taide executed a perfect catch, inches from the boundary rope, dramatically shifting the momentum back towards Vidarbha.
Not long after, Taide was once again at the heart of the action, backtracking from the slip cordon to pluck a crucial toe-edge from the last remaining batsman, Gurnoon Brar, off Dubey’s bowling. This final dismissal ignited jubilant celebrations across the Vidarbha team.
Final Scores: Vidarbha posted totals of 342 and 232. Rest of India, in response, scored 214 and 267 in 73.5 overs, with notable contributions from Yash Dhull (92) and Manav Suthar (56 not out). Harsh Dubey was a key bowler for Vidarbha, taking 4 for 73. Vidarbha sealed a 93-run victory, and Atharva Taide was deservingly named Player of the Match for his crucial contributions.