by Cricket fans, get ready for an amazing story!
A crisp February morning in Nagpur, thousands of excited fans filling the stadium, and two incredible teams battling for India’s most prestigious domestic trophy.
The vidarbha cricket team vs kerala cricket team match scorecard tells one of the most thrilling tales in recent Ranji Trophy history.
This wasn’t just any ordinary match – it was a five-day rollercoaster that had everything cricket lovers dream of.
Vidarbha, the home heroes, were chasing their third title after a heartbreaking defeat the previous year.
On the other side, Kerala was making history by reaching its very first final.
What happened over those five nail-biting days wasn’t just about runs and wickets – it was about young players stepping up, veterans showing their class, and captains leading with heart.
Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Kerala Cricket Team Match Scorecard
This match ended in a draw, but Vidarbha lifted the trophy thanks to their crucial first-innings lead.
Kerala fought like true warriors, but a few missed chances and tough breaks changed everything.
Let’s dive deep into this incredible cricket story that had fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
Setting the Stage: Why This Match Mattered So Much
Before we jump into the exciting cricket action, let’s understand why this match was so special for both teams.
Vidarbha’s Journey:
- Not your typical powerhouse team like Mumbai or Karnataka
- The scrappy underdogs who rose from nowhere
- Back-to-back champions in 2018 and 2019
- Suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Mumbai in the previous final
- Captain Akshay Wadkar promised redemption
Their Road to the Final:
- 6 wins out of 7 in the group stage
- Knocked out strong teams like Tamil Nadu and Mumbai
- Yash Rathod was the season’s top run-scorer with 960 runs
- Harsh Dubey broke records with the most wickets in a Ranji season
Kerala’s Historic Run:
- First-ever final appearance in Ranji Trophy
- Led by the calm and composed Sachin Baby
- Topped their group by beating heavyweight teams
- Knocked out Saurashtra, shocking everyone
Kerala’s Strength:
- Basil Thampi – swing bowling wizard
- Jalaj Saxena – mystery spinner
- Aditya Sarwate – all-rounder who could bat and bowl brilliantly
- Perfect balance between youth and experience
The Venue: VCA Jamtha in Nagpur became Vidarbha’s fortress. The pitch rewarded patient batting and offered help to both seamers and spinners.
The Full Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Kerala Cricket Team Match Scorecard: At a Glance
Here’s the complete breakdown that every cricket fan needs to see:
| Innings | Team | Score | Overs | Run Rate | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Innings | Vidarbha | 379/10 | 123.1 | 3.07 | All Out |
| 1st Innings | Kerala | 342/10 | 125.0 | 2.73 | All Out |
| 2nd Innings | Vidarbha | 375/9 (dec) | 143.5 | 2.61 | Declared |
| 2nd Innings | Kerala | 98/5* | 35.0 | 2.80 | Match Drawn |
Match Result:
- Match Drawn
- Vidarbha won on first-innings lead (37 runs)
- Player of the Match: Karun Nair (86 & 135*)
Key Match Details:
- Toss: Kerala elected to field first
- Venue: VCA Jamtha, Nagpur
- Duration: 5 days (February 26 – March 2, 2025)
- Attendance: Packed stadium with “Veedarbha!” chants
First Innings Lead Breakdown:
- Vidarbha: 379 runs
- Kerala: 342 runs
- Lead: 37 runs (crucial for trophy win)
Day 1: Vidarbha’s Solid Start – Setting the Tone
The match began with Kerala winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. This seemed like a smart decision on a fresh pitch with some grass cover.
Morning Session Highlights:
- Yash Rathod and Dhruv Shorey opened for Vidarbha
- Faced quality bowling from Basil Thampi and MD Nidheesh
- Rathod looked confident with four boundaries in his first 20 balls
- Thampi swung the ball beautifully but couldn’t break through
Lunch Score: Vidarbha 90/2
Afternoon Drama:
- Rathod dismissed for 38 – chopped onto his stumps
- Shorey and Karun Nair rebuilt the innings perfectly
- Shorey scored a solid 52 before edging to slip
- Danish Malewar joined Nair and looked comfortable
Day 1 Stumps:
- Vidarbha: 254/4
- Malewar: 73 (not out)*
- Nair: 68 (not out)*
- Kerala used their bowlers well but couldn’t break the key partnership
What Made Day 1 Special: The crowd energy was incredible! Families filled the stands, kids waved flags, and it felt more like a festival than just a cricket match.
Day 2: Malewar’s Magic and Kerala’s Fightback
Day 2 started with a misty morning and brought some of the most exciting cricket of the entire match.
Malewar’s Masterclass:
- The 21-year-old prodigy continued from his overnight score
- Converted his fifty into a career-best 153
- Hit 15 boundaries and 1 six
- Showed incredible footwork against spin bowling
Record Partnership:
- Malewar and Nair added 215 runs for the fifth wicket
- This was a record stand that had Kerala chasing shadows
- Both batsmen played with patience and class
- The partnership took Vidarbha past 300 runs
Kerala Strikes Back:
- Eden Apple Tom grabbed 3 wickets for 101 runs
- Removed Nair for 86 (holed out to deep field)
- Got Darshan Nalkande (22) and Yash Thakur (14)
- Aditya Sarwate helped wrap up the tail
Vidarbha All Out: 379 in 123.1 overs
Kerala’s Reply Struggles:
- Started poorly with 15/1 and 48/2
- Rohhan and Mohammed Azharuddeen fell cheaply
- Sarwate and Sachin Baby tried to steady the ship
- Day 2 Stumps: Kerala 131/3 (trailing by 248 runs)
Day 3: The First-Innings Thriller – Lead Secured by a Whisker
Day 3 turned into an absolute thriller as both teams fought tooth and nail for the crucial first-innings lead.
Kerala’s Fightback:
- Sachin Baby played like a true captain
- Scored 98 off 234 balls with incredible concentration
- Sanoop supported with 32 runs before falling lbw
Vidarbha’s Spin Attack:
- Parth Rekhade spun a web – 3 wickets for 65 runs
- Harsh Dubey achieved a historic milestone
- Became the first bowler to take 50+ wickets in a Ranji season
- Final tally: 52 wickets (new record!)
The Crucial Partnership:
- Baby and Sarwate added 80 runs for the fourth wicket
- Looked like Kerala might take the lead
- Nalkande’s bouncer to Sarwate changed everything
- Sarwate top-edged to fine leg, breaking the partnership
Baby’s Heartbreak:
- Was just 2 runs away from a well-deserved century
- Made a poor decision – charged Rekhade
- Skied the ball to Nair at deep midwicket
- Fell for 98 – so close yet so far!
Kerala All Out: 342 in 125 overs
The All-Important Lead:
- Vidarbha: 379
- Kerala: 342
- First-innings lead: 37 runs
This 37-run lead proved to be worth its weight in gold under first-class cricket rules!
Day 4: Vidarbha’s Second Act – Nair’s Masterclass
With the precious lead in their pocket, Vidarbha aimed to bat Kerala completely out of the game.
Second Innings Start:
- Rathod and Shorey opened cautiously
- Kerala struck back quickly through Thampi and Apple Tom
- Shorey dismissed for 28, Rathod for 45
- Both openers got starts but couldn’t convert
Nair’s Brilliance Continues:
- Came to the crease with pressure on
- Played with incredible patience and skill
- Reached 42 at lunch* and kept building
- Found perfect support in Captain Wadkar
Afternoon Session:
- Nair and Wadkar added 83 runs together
- Wadkar contributed 38 before getting out
- Malewar joined and scored 40 in quick time
- Added 59 runs with Nair before falling
Day 4 Stumps:
- Vidarbha: 249/4
- Leading by 286 runs
- Nair: 132 (not out)*
- Nightwatchman Rekhade survived the final overs
Kerala’s Bowling Effort:
- Saxena bowled 1/80 – worked hard, but the pitch eased up
- Thampi and others toiled without much luck
- A review overturned Rathod’s lbw – adding extra drama
- Bowlers were tired after long spells
Day 5: Declaration, Drama, and the Trophy Lift
The final day arrived with Vidarbha smelling victory and Kerala needing a miracle.
Morning Session:
- Nair and Rekhade pushed the score to 314/7 by lunch
- Lead extended to 351 runs
- Nalkande (22) and Thakur (18) fell
- Time was running out fast
The Bold Declaration:
- Wadkar declared at 375/9
- Set Kerala a target of 413 runs
- Only 60-ish overs left in the match
- Nair finished 135 off 295 balls* – a masterpiece!
Kerala’s Impossible Chase:
- Needed 413 runs in a limited time
- Started aggressively, but Vidarbha’s attack pounced
- Dubey struck first, then Rekhade joined the party
- 50/3 at tea – chase was already over
Final Session:
- Kerala: 98/5 at stumps
- Still had overs lef,t but no realistic chance
- Umpires called it – Match drawn
- Vidarbha champions on first-innings lead!
Trophy Presentation:
- Wadkar: “Dream come true for all of us!”
- Baby: “Proud of the team, next time we’ll beat you!”
- “Veedarbha!” chants filled the entire stadium
- Roger Binny presented the trophy to the winners
Key Performers: Stars Who Shone Brightest
Let’s celebrate the heroes who made this vidarbha cricket team vs kerala cricket team match scorecard so memorable:
Top Performers Table:
| Player | Team | Performance | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karun Nair | Vidarbha | 86 & 135* | Player of the Match |
| Danish Malewar | Vidarbha | 153 & 40 | Career-best knock |
| Harsh Dubey | Vidarbha | 3/88 & 52 wickets (season) | Record-breaker |
| Sachin Baby | Kerala | 98 | Captain’s knock |
| Aditya Sarwate | Kerala | 79 | All-round effort |
Individual Brilliance:
Karun Nair (Vidarbha):
- Total runs: 221 in the match (86 & 135*)
- Balls faced: 295 in the second innings alone
- Showed textbook patience and veteran class
- Silenced all doubters with his performance
- Richly deserved Player of the Match award
Danish Malewar (Vidarbha):
- At just 21 years old, he announced himself on the big stage
- Career-best 153 in the first innings
- That 215-run partnership with Nair was the game-changer
- Showed incredible maturity under pressure
Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha):
- Wrist-spin magic throughout the tournament
- 3/88 in Kerala’s first innings
- Season record: 52 wickets (most in Ranji Trophy history)
- Broke legends’ previous records
Sachin Baby (Kerala):
- 98 runs – so close to a deserved century
- Led from the front as captain
- Showed gritty determination in both innings
- Heart-breaking dismissal just 2 runs short
What We Learned: Cricket’s Beautiful Lessons
This incredible match taught us several valuable lessons about cricket and life:
For Young Players:
- Age is just a number – Malewar proved it at 21
- Patience pays off – Nair’s second innings masterclass
- Records are meant to be broken – Dubey’s historic achievement
- Never give up – Kerala’s first-final spirit
Team Building Lessons:
- Vidarbha’s system works: Mixing academy kids with experienced pros
- Balance is key: Kerala’s well-rounded team showed great potential
- Home advantage matters: Nagpur crowd lifted Vidarbha
- Leadership counts: Both captains led by example
Cricket’s Beauty:
- Every ball matters in first-class cricket
- Draws can be exciting – this match proved it perfectly
- Domestic cricket thrives on such incredible stories
- Pure, unfiltered passion makes cricket special
Key Takeaways for Cricket Fans:
- First-innings lead can decide championships
- Young talent can shine on the biggest stages
- Veterans still have magic left in them
- Every boundary and wicket builds future stars
Statistical Nuggets:
- Vidarbha had 4 players in the tournament’s top-10 run-scorers
- Kerala’s first final appearance across all formats
- A perfect tale of youth vs experience
- Home soil advantage vs away team valor
Wrapping Up: Why This Final Will Linger
As the players shook hands under the bright Nagpur lights, Vidarbha’s third title gleamed with pure joy. Kerala walked tall despite being runners-up, richer in experience and pride.
Why This Match Will Be Remembered:
Historic Significance:
- Kerala’s maiden final – a breakthrough moment
- Vidarbha’s third title – cementing their legacy
- Record-breaking performances – Dubey’s 52 wickets
- Closest possible margin – 37-run first-innings lead
Human Stories:
- Malewar’s rise from unknown to hero
- Nair’s redemption after years in the wilderness
- Baby’s near-miss century – so close to glory
- Wadkar’s promise of redemption fulfilled
Cricket Excellence:
- 999 runs scored across four innings
- Amazing bowling performances from both sides
- Brilliant fielding and tactical captaincy
- Five days of pure cricket entertainment
The Vidarbha cricket team vs Kerala cricket team match scorecard isn’t just numbers on paper – it’s a reminder that Ranji Trophy cricket represents India’s real heartbeat. Every boundary, every wicket, every appeal builds the future of Indian cricket.
For Future Generations: This match shows that domestic cricket provides the platform where dreams come true. As Nair perfectly said, “Every first-class player dreams of this moment.” Both teams lived that dream.
Final Thoughts:
- 37 runs decided the championship
- Five days of incredible cricket
- Two teams gave everything they had
- Thousands of fans witnessed history
This wasn’t just a cricket match – it was a celebration of everything beautiful about the sport we all love!
Want to learn more about cricket statistics and analysis? Check out these helpful resources:
- BCCI Official Website – Latest cricket news and scores
- ESPN Cricinfo – Detailed match analysis and statistics
- ICC Official Site – International cricket updates and rankings
- Winners Zine – Latest Cricket Updates
The final scorecard summary:
- Vidarbha: 379 & 375/9 declared
- Kerala: 342 & 98/5
- Result: Match drawn, Vidarbha won on first-innings lead
This Vidarbha cricket team vs Kerala cricket team match scorecard will forever remain a testament to the beauty and unpredictability of cricket at its finest!
