Vidarbha emerged victorious in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final, securing their third title in a gripping contest against Kerala at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. The match, which concluded today, ended in a draw, but Vidarbha’s 37-run first-innings lead proved decisive under the tournament’s rules, crowning them champions on Day 5.

The final showcased Vidarbha’s resilience and strategic depth. Batting first after Kerala opted to bowl, Vidarbha posted 379, powered by Danish Malewar’s 153 and Karun Nair’s 86. Kerala’s reply faltered at 342, with captain Sachin Baby agonizingly falling for 98. Vidarbha’s spinners, Harsh Dubey and Parth Rekhade, along with seamer Darshan Nalkande, each claimed three wickets to secure the crucial lead. In their second innings, Vidarbha extended their advantage beyond 350, with Nair’s 135 and Malewar’s 73 setting an imposing tone, though Kerala’s bowlers prevented an outright victory.

This triumph marks Vidarbha’s third Ranji Trophy win, following back-to-back successes in 2017-18 and 2018-19, and avenges their loss to Mumbai in the 2023-24 final. Celebrations erupted as retiring captain Akshay Wadkar lifted the trophy, a fitting farewell after a season where Vidarbha topped the charts in runs and wickets. Dubey, with a record-breaking 69 wickets, earned Player of the Season honors, while Nair’s consistency shone through. Kerala, in their maiden final, fought valiantly but couldn’t overcome the first-innings deficit.