Vidarbha vs Saurashtra | Vijay Hazare Trophy, 2025/26 | Final

It is a moment of pure, unadulterated joy for the Vidarbha team and their entire fraternity. Vidarbha skipper Harsh Dubey proudly received the coveted Vijay Hazare Trophy from BCCI secretary Mithun Manhas and the well-deserved celebrations for the new, maiden VHT champions began in earnest. A sight that will be cherished by everyone associated with the team for a long time to come. That is it from this tournament. We hope you enjoyed our company for this series. Cheers!

Harsh Dubey, the skipper of Vidarbha, says that they have got the result of their hardwork for the past month. Adds that they kept on improving and learning and they finally succeeded. He adds that he works on his bowling and says that Yash Rathod did well in his first three matches and he did well at number 3. Ends by saying that they have one of the best bowling side and he is happy to win the tournament.

Aman Mokhade is the Player of the Series. He says that he believed in himself and it worked for him. He says that the competition is a lot in the team and he missed some chances but the ones he got, he gave his best. Adds that last year they lost against Karnataka, so they had to win this tournament. Ends by saying that its a great feeling to win the finals.

Atharva Taide is the Player of the Match. He says that his mindset has always been such that he has to perform in big matches. He says that he will continue with his hardwork and Dhruv Shorey was unavailable so they had some extra pressure and they handled it well. Ends by saying that they were with the mindset that we have to give it all and it went their way.

Harvik Desai, the skipper of Saurashtra, says that they have played the whole tournament well but this game didn't go their way. Adds that their batting and bowling unit were excellent throughout the tournament. He adds that they have unity in their side and they will come back stronger as a side.

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Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bowl first, Saurashtra restricted Vidarbha to a competitive total of 317/8 in an entertaining first innings of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 final. Vidarbha's openers provided a solid start with an 80-run partnership before Ankur Panwar made the first breakthrough, dismissing the dangerous Aman Mokhade for 33. The innings was anchored by Atharva Taide, who scored a brilliant 128 and, along with Yash Rathod, stitched a 133-run second-wicket stand. Positioned strongly at 213/1, Vidarbha seemed set for a total exceeding 350. However, the Saurashtra bowlers, led by Ankur Panwar and Chetan Sakariya, triggered a middle-order collapse. Wickets fell consistently thereafter, and Vidarbha could only manage 317/8, a fine score on the board, but perhaps less than they hoped for after their dominant start.

Vidarbha’s bowling unit deserves immense credit for their consistent and well-disciplined performance throughout the Saurashtra innings. Despite facing a lot of fumbles and misfields from the fielding side, the bowlers maintained their composure and did enough to seal the decisive 38-run victory. The efforts were a complete team affair, with key contributions coming from Yash Thakur, Darshan Nalkande and Nachiket Bhute, who were excellent in claiming the crucial wickets, while every other member of the bowling unit played their part effectively in restricting the opposition and securing their first-ever VHT trophy.

Chasing a challenging 318, Saurashtra's innings faltered early, with their normally reliable, in-form openers dismissed cheaply, putting immediate pressure on the middle order. A significant fightback was mounted by Prerak Mankad and Chirag Jani, who stitched together a crucial and gutsy 98-run fifth-wicket partnership that kept Saurashtra's hopes alive and the game finely balanced. They navigated the tricky phase well, but once Mankad, who top-scored with a brave 88, was dismissed, the chase began to unravel rapidly. Jani's handy knock of 64 provided valuable support, but the rest of the batting order simply couldn't stand up to the occasion, seemingly putting in the handkerchief when the title was truly on the line.

The foundation for this momentous win was decisively laid by Atharva Taide, whose sensational century in the first innings provided the essential impetus, propelling Vidarbha to a competitive total in a high-stakes final. The pitch at the venue was, by all accounts, a batting paradise, offering little assistance to the bowlers and making the prospect of chasing a 318-run target seem highly achievable. Despite these challenging conditions heavily favoring the batters, the Vidarbha bowlers demonstrated remarkable discipline and tactical acumen. They stuck to their plans meticulously, managing to defend their total with grit and determination, ultimately proving that precise execution can overcome even the most batter-friendly conditions.

A maiden title triumph in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Heartfelt congratulations to Vidarbha for their spectacular performance in the final, which sees them secure a well-deserved, hard-fought 38-run victory over a strong Saurashtra side. This historic win marks their first-ever VHT trophy, a moment of immense pride and celebration for the entire team and their supporters who have witnessed their journey to the top of domestic one-day cricket.