Vidarbha Claimed Third Title In Ranji Trophy History

The Nagpur Cricket Association, also known as Vidarbha, claimed its third Ranji Trophy title in the tournament’s history on Sunday by defeating Kerala in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy finals at the Vidarbha Stadium in Nagpur.

The 21-year-old prodigy Danish Malewar was the star of the finals, scoring a sensational 153 off just 285 balls in the first innings, which included 15 boundaries and 3 sixes. He followed it up with a solid 73 in the second innings. Malewar’s two fifty-plus scores cemented his status as one of the rising stars in Indian cricket.

Vidarbha, after being invited to bat first, posted a solid 379 runs in the first innings, thanks to contributions from Danish Malewar and the experienced Karun Nair, who scored 86 off 188 deliveries. In response, Kerala was bundled out for 342 runs as Nalkande, Harsh, and Parth took three wickets each for Vidarbha, securing a lead of 37 runs by day three.

Led by Akshay Wadkar, Vidarbha batted through the remaining days without allowing Kerala a second innings, posting 375/9 in 143.5 overs. Karun Nair’s superb innings of 135 off 295 balls and his vital 182-run partnership with Danish Malewar for the second wicket were crucial in securing the victory.

Vidarbha, with more than 100 years of history in the Ranji Trophy, has become a formidable force in the last seven years. They won their first title in the 2017-18 season and defended it the following year. Last season, they narrowly missed out on the title, losing to 42-time champions Mumbai in the finals. This latest victory adds to their growing legacy in Indian domestic cricket.