Cricket

Harsh Dubey, the young left-arm spinner for Vidarbha, played a pivotal role in his team's Ranji Trophy triumph. A day before the final, Dubey was tasked with dismissing a key Mumbai batter, and he executed his plan to perfection.Of the three wickets Dubey claimed, he cherished Ajinkya Rahane's dismissal the most. "I had made up my mind to dismiss him before the match," Dubey revealed. "I always do it. Before every match, I pick a player whom I want to dismiss."Dubey's dismissal of Rahane was a testament to his meticulous planning. "I was giving him balls to drive, thinking that there were chances of the ball going in the air if Rahane drives it as the ball was getting stuck on the wicket," Dubey explained. "The plan succeeded."Rahane's attempt to break free resulted in an uppish drive that was caught by Dhruv Shorey at mid-off. Dubey's success against Rahane was a significant moment in the match, as it helped Vidarbha gain an early advantage.Dubey's performance in the final was a culmination of his hard work and experience. The 21-year-old has been juggling between Vidarbha's Under-23 and Ranji sides throughout the season. However, the experience of winning championships in the inter-state age-group tournaments helped him enter the final without any pressure."There was no pressure of the final. We have won the U-16, U-19, and U-23 finals in the past, so there was no such pressure of the final," Dubey said. "I was treating it as a normal game and not thinking of it as a big game. I am taking it as just another Ranji contest against Mumbai."Dubey's composure and determination were evident throughout the match. He bowled with accuracy and control, troubling the Mumbai batsmen with his variations. His performance was a testament to his talent and the guidance he has received from his coaches.

Mumbai's Shardul Thakur Rescues Team in Ranji Trophy Final OpenerMumbai's Shardul Thakur once again proved his batting prowess, rescuing his team from a precarious position on the first day of the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha at the Wankhede Stadium.After Vidarbha's bowlers, Yash Thakur and Harsh Dubey, had reduced Mumbai to 104 for 5, Shardul stepped up with a blistering 37-ball half-century. His innings, which included 10 fours and 2 sixes, helped Mumbai reach a respectable total of 224.Shardul's knock was crucial as Mumbai's middle order had collapsed either side of lunch. Captain Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer both fell cheaply for 7 each. However, Shardul's partnership with Sarfaraz Khan (37) and Shams Mulani (25) steadied the innings.When Shardul was eventually dismissed for 75 off 69 balls, Mumbai were still in a precarious position. However, Umesh Yadav's quickfire 20 helped them add valuable runs to their total.In reply, Vidarbha lost three early wickets to Shardul and Dhawal Kulkarni, who was playing his farewell game. Atharva Taide (21*) and nightwatchman Aditya Thakare (0*) will resume batting on day two with Vidarbha trailing by 193 runs.

Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium holds a special significance for Akshay Wakhare, the team's veteran off-spinner. Wakhare is one of only two players in the current Vidarbha squad to have played in the team's solitary Ranji Trophy game at the iconic venue, and he is the only cricketer to have featured in both of Vidarbha's previous Ranji encounters against Mumbai.Despite the ghosts of the 2013-14 clash, where Vidarbha was outplayed by a dominant Mumbai side, Wakhare exudes confidence that his team will approach the final as just another game. He believes that the majority of the Vidarbha players are accustomed to the pressure of big occasions and will not be overawed by the atmosphere or the location.Wakhare acknowledges the challenge of facing Mumbai, a team with a rich history and an impressive record in the Ranji Trophy. However, he emphasizes that Vidarbha has made significant strides in recent years and is no longer an underdog. The team's exposure to various levels of cricket, including the IPL and age-group tournaments, has instilled a sense of self-confidence in the younger players.While Wakhare does not forget the drubbing Vidarbha received at the hands of Zaheer Khan-led Mumbai at the Wankhede in 2013-14, he believes that the team has learned from its mistakes and is better prepared for the challenge this time around. He is confident that Vidarbha will not be overawed by the occasion and will give a strong account of itself in the Ranji Trophy final.

Vidarbha tightened their grip on their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Madhya Pradesh, inching closer to a thrilling victory in Nagpur on March 5. With just four wickets remaining, the hosts are poised to set up a date in the summit clash with Mumbai.Madhya Pradesh, chasing 321 to win, reached 228 for six at stumps on day four. Their hopes of reaching their second final in three years suffered a major blow when Aditya Sarwate (2/51) dismissed Yash Dubey (94) in the penultimate over of the day.Dubey had played a valiant knock, consuming 212 balls and hitting 10 fours. He forged a crucial 106-run stand with Harsh Gawali (67), but once they were separated, Vidarbha kept making inroads.Madhya Pradesh lost first-innings centurion Himanshu Mantri for a mere eight in the second essay. The failure of their middle-order trio of Sagar Solanki (12), Shubham Sharma (6), and Venkatesh Iyer (19) further hurt their cause.Akshay Wakhare was the star for Vidarbha, accounting for these three batters. Sarwate's late strike to dismiss Dubey put the two-time winners in the pole position.Earlier in the day, Vidarbha added 59 runs to their overnight score of 343 for six, setting a target of 321 for Madhya Pradesh. Yash Rathod brought up his century and finished with a high score of 141, hitting 18 fours and two sixes.For Madhya Pradesh, Anubhav Agarwal returned 5/92. Madhya Pradesh had taken a lead of 82 runs in the first innings, responding with 252.

Vidarbha's Yash Rathod's unbeaten 97 and Akshay Wadkar's 77 propelled the team to a commanding position in their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Madhya Pradesh. Resuming on 13 for one, Vidarbha lost nightwatchman Akshay Wakhare early but Dhruv Shorey and Aman Mokhade steadied the innings with an 84-run stand.However, left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya broke the partnership, and Vidarbha found themselves in trouble at 161 for five. Enter Rathod and Wadkar, who forged a crucial 158-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Rathod, playing in only his seventh First-Class game, showed maturity beyond his years, while Wadkar provided solid support.The pitch, which had been lively in the first two days, seemed to have eased out, allowing Rathod and Wadkar to play with confidence. They exploited the conditions to pile on runs, leaving the MP bowlers frustrated.Towards the end of the day, Wadkar fell to pacer Anubhav Agarwal, but Rathod remained unbeaten on 97. Vidarbha ended the day on 343 for six, leading by a handy 261 runs.Rathod's innings was a testament to his talent and determination. The 22-year-old has been in impressive form this season, and his knock in this crucial match has further enhanced his reputation.With two days remaining in the match, Vidarbha will be confident of pushing for a victory. Madhya Pradesh, on the other hand, will need to find a way to break the Rathod-led resistance and get back into the contest.

Himanshu Mantri's masterful century propelled Madhya Pradesh to a commanding position in their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Vidarbha. Resuming on 47 for one, Mantri anchored the innings with a patient and technically sound knock of 126 off 265 deliveries. His innings, studded with 13 boundaries and a six, proved crucial as Madhya Pradesh gained an 82-run lead in the first innings.Mantri's knock was a testament to his resilience and adaptability. Despite losing his opening partner early, he forged a solid partnership with Harsh Gawli, extending their alliance to 61 runs. However, Vidarbha's pacers struck back, dismissing Gawli and two more batsmen in quick succession.Undeterred, Mantri found support in Sagar Solanki, adding 42 runs for the fifth wicket. He then combined with Saransh Jain for a crucial 73-run stand, taking Madhya Pradesh past Vidarbha's first innings total.As the pitch eased out, spinners Aditya Sarwate and Akshay Wakhare posed some challenges. However, Mantri's skill and experience allowed him to counter their threats effectively. He reached his century with a quick single off Wakhare, celebrating the milestone with a roar.Unfortunately, Mantri's dismissal soon after, along with Jain's, halted Madhya Pradesh's progress. However, their contributions had already laid the foundation for a strong lead.In their second innings, Vidarbha lost Atharva Taide early, trailing by 69 runs at stumps. The match remains finely poised, with Madhya Pradesh holding a significant advantage but Vidarbha still in contention.

Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh, two formidable teams in Indian domestic cricket, will clash in the first semifinal of the Ranji Trophy at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Saturday. Vidarbha, riding high on their quarterfinal victory over Karnataka, will aim to deny MP a second final appearance in three years.MP, under the guidance of former Vidarbha coach Chandrakant Pandit, scraped a narrow four-run win against Andhra to reach the semifinals. Pandit's presence adds an intriguing subplot to the contest, as he led Vidarbha to back-to-back Ranji Trophy titles in 2017/18 and 2018/19.MP's batting has been led by Himanshu Mantri and Yash Dubey, who have both scored over 500 runs this season. However, their middle-order has been inconsistent, with Venkatesh Iyer often bailing them out of trouble. Iyer, a left-handed all-rounder, has scored 528 runs at a strike rate of 82.28.Vidarbha, on the other hand, will rely on Atharva Taide, who scored a century against Karnataka in the quarterfinals. Imports Dhruv Shorey and Karun Nair will also be key contributors to their batting. Captain Akshay Wadkar has also been in good form, scoring six half-centuries.In the bowling department, MP will look to Kumar Kartikeya, their leading wicket-taker with 38 scalps. Avesh Khan and Kulwant Khejroliya will provide support with their pace bowling. Vidarbha's bowling attack is led by Aditya Sarwate, who has taken 37 wickets this season.The match promises to be a close contest between two evenly matched teams. Vidarbha will be looking to reach their first Ranji Trophy final since 2018, while MP will be aiming to repeat their title triumph of 2022.

The Ranji Trophy quarterfinals are set to begin across India from Friday, with eight teams vying for a spot in the semifinals. Among the contenders are familiar faces like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, as well as giant-killers Vidarbha and Baroda.Mumbai, the 41-time champions, will face Baroda in a depleted state, missing key players like Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Dube. However, they will be bolstered by the inclusion of U-19 World Cup star Musheer Khan. Mumbai will rely on their in-form opener Bhupen Lalwani and key weapon Mohit Avasthi to lead their charge.Vidarbha, the only team apart from Mumbai to have recorded five wins in the group stage, will take on a formidable Karnataka side. Vidarbha will miss the services of seasoned campaigner Faiz Fazal, but they will be confident playing in their backyard. Skipper Akshay Wadkar, Dhruv Shorey, and former Karnataka batter Karun Nair will be key for Vidarbha, while Aditya Sarwate and Aditya Thakare will handle the bowling responsibilities.Karnataka, who finished second in Group C behind Tamil Nadu, will feel the absence of Devdutt Padikkal, but they have capable batsmen like Manish Pandey and Sharath Srinivas. Pacer Vysakh Vijaykumar's all-round brilliance will also be a crucial factor for Karnataka.Saurashtra, led by Cheteshwar Pujara, will be confident against Tamil Nadu, who have made it to the Ranji Trophy knockouts for the first time in six years. Pujara has been in prolific form this season, amassing 780 runs, while skipper Arpit Vasavada and Prerak Mankad have also contributed with the bat. Saurashtra's Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is in contention for the most wickets this season, with 39 scalps.Tamil Nadu, who finished second behind Vidarbha in Group A, will rely on Narayan Jagadeesan and Baba Indrajith for runs. Spinners R Sai Kishore and S Ajith Ram have been their key wicket-takers.At the Holkar Stadium in Indore, hosts Madhya Pradesh will face a dangerous Andhra side, who are coming off a three-match unbeaten run. Ricky Bhui has been the season's best performer with the bat, while Hanuma Vihari has also made vital contributions. Andhra finished second behind Mumbai in Group B, indicating their form and confidence.Madhya Pradesh, the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy winner, have been unbeaten this season. Venkatesh Iyer and Kumar Kartikeya have been their standout performers.With so much talent on display, the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals promise to be an exciting and closely contested affair.