Vidarbha Win Maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy After Beating Saurashtra

Historic First Vijay Hazare Title for Vidarbha in Bengaluru Final

Vidarbha created history in Indian domestic cricket by lifting their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy , defeating two-time champions Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final. The title clash, played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, capped a season defined by batting depth and disciplined bowling from the Vidarbha side.

Atharva Taide Anchors a Historic Innings

Opener Atharva Taide rose to the occasion with a sublime 128 , his finest List A innings to date. Coming after a prolonged gap since his previous century, Taide blended patience with well-timed aggression. He negotiated the early movement with composure before accelerating through the middle overs, laying a solid foundation for a big total.

Middle-Order Stability Powers Vidarbha to 317

With regular captain Dhruv Shorey unavailable, Yash Rathod was promoted up the order and responded with a mature 54 . His 133-run partnership with Taide steadily tilted the contest in Vidarbha’s favour. Despite a four-wicket spell by Ankur Panwar, Vidarbha posted a competitive 317/8 , a total that applied sustained pressure in a final.

Saurashtra’s Resistance Ends Midway

In reply, Saurashtra showed fight through Prerak Mankad (88) and Chirag Jani (64). Their fifth-wicket partnership briefly revived hopes, but once Mankad was dismissed, momentum decisively swung back to Vidarbha. Jani’s departure while attempting to accelerate left the chase adrift of the required rate.

Bowling Discipline Seals the Title

Vidarbha’s bowlers ensured there was no late comeback. Yash Thakur spearheaded the attack with four wickets , supported effectively by Nachiket Bhute and Darshan Nalkande. Saurashtra were bowled out for 279 in 48.5 overs , sealing Vidarbha’s maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph and underlining their emergence as a powerhouse in domestic limited-overs cricket. ​​​

Exam-Focused Points

• Vijay Hazare Trophy is India’s premier domestic one-day (List A) tournament.

• Vidarbha had earlier won the Ranji Trophy but never this title.

• The final was played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru .

• Atharva Taide scored a century in the final.

• Vidarbha won by 38 runs , bowling Saurashtra out for 279.