In a historic moment for domestic cricket, Vidarbha scripted a memorable victory by defeating Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground on Sunday.
This maiden List A title marks a significant milestone for the Central Zone side, who had endured the heartbreak of a final defeat to Karnataka in the previous edition.
Having been asked to bat first, Vidarbha posted a commanding total of 317/8 in their 50 overs. The innings was anchored by opener Atharva Taide, whose masterful 128 off 118 balls (15 fours, 3 sixes) provided the backbone of the innings. Taide, returning to form in style, displayed perfect balance between caution and aggression, reaching his fifty off 66 balls before
accelerating to bring up his century in the pressure of a title clash. He shared a crucial 133-run stand for the second wicket with Yash Rathod (54 off 61 balls), setting a solid platform.
Though the middle order contributed modestly and Saurashtra's Ankur Panwar claimed four wickets, the total proved more than competitive on a good batting surface.
In reply, Saurashtra made a promising start but lost early wickets, including that of explosive opener Vishvaraj Jadeja. The chase gained momentum through a fighting 93-run fifth-wicket partnership between Prerak Mankad (88 off 92 balls) and Chirag Jani (64 off 63 balls), which kept the equation alive into the death overs.
However, Vidarbha's disciplined bowling unit turned the game decisively. Captain Harsh Dubey broke the crucial stand by trapping Mankad lbw, while pacers Yash Thakur (4/50) and Nachiket Bhute (3/46) dismantled the lower order. Darshan Nalkande also chipped in with key wickets, ensuring Saurashtra were bowled out for 279 in 48.5 overs.
The victory was sweet redemption for Vidarbha, who had reached the final last year only to fall short. This triumph cements their status as a powerhouse in domestic cricket, having already claimed the Ranji Trophy recently. Atharva Taide was named Player of the Match for his match-defining knock, while Aman Mokhade (who finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with over 800 runs) was adjudged Player of the Series.
Vidarbha's all-round cohesion and resilience under pressure have now delivered silverware in both red-ball and white-ball formats, signaling the rise of a formidable domestic unit.
