The Ranji Trophy Elite 2024-25 final between Vidarbha and Kerala, which took place between February 26 and March 2, 2025, in the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur was an exciting spectacle of the top domestic first-class cricket competition in India.
This five day battle which was a draw with Vidarbha taking the title by a 37 run first-innings lead was a tribute to the strength, expertise and drama that characterize the Ranji Trophy.
To Vidarbha this was a payback since they had lost the 2023-24 final to Mumbai. It was history in the making of Kerala as it was their first Ranji Trophy final. The Vidarbha cricket team vs Kerala cricket team match scorecard tells the story of a contest where every run and wicket mattered.
Match Overview: A Battle of Grit and Strategy
Vidarbha was going into the final as the favorite unbeaten in the season. Kerala, being the underdogs under the leadership of Sachin Baby, had demonstrated great spirit in the semifinal with Gujarat.
Match Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Match | Vidarbha vs Kerala |
| Tournament | Ranji Trophy Final 2024-25 |
| Venue | VCA Stadium, Nagpur |
| Dates | Feb 26 – Mar 2, 2025 |
| Result | Draw; Vidarbha won on 1st-innings lead |
Vidarbha First Innings: Malewar & Nair Shine
The partnership of 215 between Danish Malewar (153) and Karun Nair (86) helped Vidarbha to save her innings. They had lost early wickets but their strength saw Vidarbha score 379.
Vidarbha 1st Innings Batting
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Dismissal |
| Danish Malewar | 153 | 296 | 17 | 1 | c Sarwate b Nidheesh |
| Karun Nair | 86 | 237 | 10 | 0 | run out (Saxena) |
| Nachiket Bhute | 32 | 38 | 4 | 0 | c Baby b Apple Tom |
| Others | … | … | … | … | … |
| Total | 379/10 | 123.1 overs | – | – | – |
Kerala’s bowlers fought back, with MD Nidheesh and Eden Apple Tom picking three wickets each.
Kerala First Innings: Baby’s Heartbreak
Kerala responded with 342, which was 37 short. The highlight was the valiant 98 of Captain Sachin baby which was backed by Aditya Sarwate 79.
Table 3: Kerala 1st Innings Batting
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Dismissal |
| Sachin Baby | 98 | 235 | 10 | 0 | c Karnewar b Rekhade |
| Aditya Sarwate | 79 | 185 | 10 | 0 | lbw b Dubey |
| Azharuddeen | 34 | 70 | 5 | 0 | c Wadkar b Nalkande |
| Others | … | … | … | … | … |
| Total | 342/10 | 125 overs | – | – | – |
Vidarbha’s bowlers Harsh Dubey, Darshan Nalkande, and Parth Rekhade shared three wickets each.
Vidarbha Second Innings: Nair’s Century Seals It
The second innings of Vidarbha was anchored by Karun Nair who scored 132 without being defeated. Vidarbha was backed up by Malewar (73) and Nalkande (50*), to the tune of 375/9 declared.
Vidarbha 2nd Innings Batting
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Dismissal |
| Karun Nair | 132* | 300 | 15 | 0 | not out |
| Danish Malewar | 73 | 162 | 8 | 0 | c Baby b Sarwate |
| Darshan Nalkande | 50* | 60 | 6 | 0 | not out |
| Others | … | … | … | … | … |
| Total | 375/9 | 143.5 overs | – | – | – |
Kerala never got a chance to bat again, and the match ended in a draw.
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Day-by-Day Highlights
- Day 1: With the help of Malewar and Nair, Vidarbha regained its position 24/3 to 254/4.
- Day 2: Kerala counter-attacked, dismissing Vidarbha at 379. Sarwate pegged the Kerala response.
- Day 3: Kerala was alive owing to Sachin Baby and his 98, but his sacking changed the tide.
- Day 4: Nair took a century which solidified the position of Vidarbha. Kerala lost vital catches.
- Day 5: Vidarbha increased their advantage to over 400. Vidarbha made champions.
Final Result & Analysis
The game ended with Kerala winning over Vidarbha by a small margin. The Vidarbha cricket team vs Kerala cricket team match scorecard reflects how evenly matched these sides were. The depth of the batting in Kerala provided them with an advantage and the bowlers in Vidarbha made sure that the battle was not one-sided.
This outcome has a great impact on the tournament results. The win of Kerala gives them confidence and Vidarbha will seek to recover and come back stronger in the future matches.
Player of the Match
The opener of Kerala, whose composed 90 runs were declared the Player of the Match. His innings was the tone setter and the basis of victory for Kerala. The difference between the two sides was his capability to hold on to pressure and hold the innings.
Broader Impact on Domestic Cricket
Indian domestic cricket is very dependent on such matches. They demonstrate the talent of states and offer selectors information about the upcoming players. The bowling and batting strength of Vidarbha and Kerala can be easily transferred to the next level of competitions.
For fans, the Vidarbha cricket team vs Kerala cricket team match scorecard is more than just numbers, it’s a story of determination, skill, and the unpredictable nature of cricket.
Final Word
The Vidarbha-Kerala match was a test of the quality of domestic Indian cricket. Both teams were skillful, determined and sportive. Fans eagerly await the next encounter, knowing that the Vidarbha cricket team vs Kerala cricket team match scorecard will continue to be a benchmark for competitive cricket.
This game will not only be remembered because of the statistics but also because of the game spirit.
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