Author: Atreyo Mukhopadhyay

If this game is about cashing in on opportunities when they come only once in a while, Kerala kept losing those, while Vidarbha took a firm grip on the Ranji Trophy final. On the fourth and penultimate day at VCA Stadium in Nagpur, the home team added 249 runs to their first-innings lead of 37 to stretch the tally to 286 with six wickets still in hand. Karun Nair and Danish Malwar shared another big stand to help Vidarbha stretch their lead and take the summit clash away from Kerala. That process began when Kerala had a golden chance to…

Things unfolded in an unpredictable manner on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy final being played in Nagpur. Vidarbha fell well short of where they wanted to be despite a desperate last-wicket partnership and Kerala could not reach a real position of strength either. In reply to the home team’s 379, the visiting side were 131/3 at stumps. Difficult to tell at this point, but a slight edge for Vidarbha. Vidarbha thought they would make merry and bat out the second day when they negotiated almost the entire first hour without losing a wicket. Danish Malewar was going great guns…

One of the great cricketing diktats goes like this: When you win the toss on a good wicket, you bat. When you win the toss on a dodgy wicket, you think about it and then bat. When you win the toss on a deplorable wicket, you think harder and still bat. Kerala did not pay heed to this age-old dictum in the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha. On a benign pitch in Nagpur, they opted to bowl and initially found some success. However, they were countered by an unbelievable ploy from the home team. Vidarbha sent in their bowlers to…

India’s campaign in the Champions Trophy has begun on a resounding note. Sublime Shubman Gill, vintage Virat Kohli and a whole lot of bowling heroics featuring individuals like Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav are occupying the space of cricket consumption in a country which loves this OCD. Far away, in a distant corner and beyond the spotlight, the most important match of India’s domestic calendar is going to start on Wednesday (February 26). The venue is Nagpur and the contestants are Vidarbha and Kerala in the final of the 90th edition of the Ranji Trophy —…

Jalaj Saxena was leaving the field after the end of the Gujarat innings. There was a helmet in his right hand raised above in an expression of triumph. That protective equipment will become an important exhibit if the Kerala Cricket Association ever builds a museum. A rebound off that helmet worn by Salman Nizar at short-leg carried to slip, which gave Kerala a decisive first-innings lead of two runs. The state mad about football made its maiden entry to the final of a senior men’s event in cricket, thanks to that last-gasp ‘header’ in a drama-filled first 20 overs on…

The Ranji Trophy semi-finals are showing a direction. After the fourth evening, Gujarat and Vidarbha were close to the final. Coincidentally, players who ply their trade with the left hand, were the major protagonists. Gujarat need 29 runs with three wickets standing to secure a decisive first-innings leadagainst Kerala. Vidarbha have to defend 322 runs or take seven wickets to knock out Mumbai. Vidarbha vs Mumbai, VCA Stadium, Nagpur Yash Rathod is a middle-order bat, who had made over 700 runs before this match and yet, Karun Nair was the most celebrated Vidarbha player. The 24-year-old left-hander followed up his…

Vidarbha fought their way to a position of advantage against Mumbai, while Gujarat forced their way close towards the driving seat against Kerala after Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. There were sub-plots and characters, who seized their moments to propel their teams forward. However, it was far from over in both venues, with two more days to go. Vidarbha vs Mumbai, VCA Stadium, Nagpur After a long time, a specialist batter led Mumbai’s rearguard act. Playing his fourth game at this level, wicketkeeper-opener Akash Anand converted his overnight 67 to 106. His team finished at 270, from 118/6.…

The pendulum swung wildly as far as the behaviour of the matches was concerned on Day 2 of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. It was topsy-turvy between Vidarbha and Mumbai in Nagpur, where a three-wicket over from Parth Rekhade sparked madness on a day that claimed 12 wickets. In Ahmedabad against Gujarat, Kerala were slow yet steadfast in their attempt to bat big and deep. Vidarbha vs Mumbai, VCA Stadium, Nagpur The 42-time champions did well to terminate Vidarbha for 383 from 308/5 overnight. Shivam Dube came up with his third first-class five-wicket haul and did that in the role of…

Teams winning the toss chose to bat and reached contrasting positions after Day of the Ranji Trophy semi-finals. Hosting Mumbai in Nagpur, Vidarbha reached a good-looking 308/5 despite having no scores in three figures. In Ahmedabad against Gujarat, Kerala saw a number of batters fail to convert starts and made 206/4 on a day of slow batting, especially in the final session. Vidarbha vs Mumbai, VCA Stadium, Nagpur A couple of scores in the seventies and Karun Nair falling five short of 50 were talking points, but the highlight of the day was Shivam Dube getting rid of two well-set…

In the headlines a few weeks ago, the Ranji Trophy is now back among the news briefs. It is unlikely to get more space over the next fortnight if the Men in Blue progress to the business end of the Champions Trophy. However, the semi-finals of India’s premier first-class competition, beginning on Monday (February 17), will unfold in familiar obscurity. That does not mean a drop in seriousness or intensity from the teams involved. The last four feature Kerala alongside Mumbai, Vidarbha, and Gujarat. The southern team has made it this far only once before and is seeking a maiden…