Vidarbha Secures Spot in Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Final with Dominant Win Over Mumbai

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Vidarbha has secured its spot in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final after beating Mumbai by 80 runs in the semifinal. This will be Vidarbha's fourth Ranji Trophy final and their second consecutive appearance in the summit clash. Last season, Vidarbha stumbled against Mumbai in the final, but this time they will face Kerala, who are making their first-ever appearance in the Ranji final.

The road to the final for Vidarbha was paved with several dominant performances in the group stage and knockout rounds. In the group stage, Vidarbha won matches against Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, and Andhra, with draws against Gujarat and Hyderabad. Their knockout stage campaign began with a win over Tamil Nadu in the quarterfinal, followed by the semifinal victory over Mumbai. The team's performance was marked by notable individual efforts, including batting and bowling displays that helped them gain a significant advantage over their opponents.

A key highlight of Vidarbha's campaign was Yash Rathod's 151 in the semifinal against Mumbai, which helped his team extend their lead in the second innings despite a six-wicket haul by Shams Mulani. Rathod's innings, along with a 158-run stand for the fifth wicket with Akshay Wadkar, was crucial in setting up a daunting target of 406 for Mumbai in the final innings. The chase was further complicated by Harsh Dubey's quick wickets and Parth Rekhade's dismissal of Mumbai skipper Ajinkya Rahane, leaving Mumbai with an uphill task to stay in contention.

The match scores for the semifinal were as follows:

• Mumbai: 270 (Akash Anand 106, Shardul Thakur 37; Parth Rekhade 4-55) & 83/3 (Harsh Dubey 2/26)
• Vidarbha: 383 (Danish Malewar 79, Dhruv Shorey 74; Shivam Dube 5-49, Royston Dias 2-48) & 292 (Yash Rathod 151, Akshay Wadkar 52; Shams Mulani 6-86)

Vidarbha's victory sets up an exciting final against Kerala, marking a significant milestone for both teams as they vie for the Ranji Trophy title.

Vidarbha's journey to the final is a testament to their team's cricket prowess and strategic gameplay. As they prepare to face Kerala in the final, they will look to build on their past performances and make the most of their experience in the tournament. With the stage set for an exciting climax to the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, fans can expect a thrilling contest between two teams that have shown remarkable skill and determination throughout the season.

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