At the core of Indian domestic cricket is the geographical centre of the country, the arid and famine-ridden Vidarbha. Minnows for most of their existence in the Ranji Trophy circuit, their comeuppance can no longer be termed a fairy tale. Their third title in seven years emphasises their stature as a domestic powerhouse, their unbeaten march to the title, outrightly winning eight of the 10 games en route, a badge of their invincibility. It’s a triumph of concerted planning, systematic execution and unflinching ambition, a model for aspiring teams with little cricketing heritage. One of India’s pathbreaking cricket legends, CK Nayudu, was born in Nagpur, but once the old Central Provinces splintered, Vidarbha slumped into cricketing insignificance.
How they charted their upward path is a fascinating story. The association formed an academy in 2009 for blossoming cricketers in the 15 to 19 age group at the old stadium in Civil Lines, mobilised coaching camps in the interiors. They hired seasoned stalwarts as guest players, who infused professionalism and the belief that Vidarbha could emerge as a cricketing force. Coaches proficient for their work at grassroots, like Chandrakant Pandit, were roped in. Fortune too winked, as the young tearaway Umesh Yadav burst forth, though from the tennis ball circuit rather than the academy. Armed with one of the fastest bowlers in the country, Vidarbha started their giant-killing spree before becoming a giant themselves. In 2018, they raised their maiden Ranji Trophy. They defended the title and won the Irani Trophy to establish that they are one of the foremost teams in the domestic sphere.
The next step is spawning a conveyor belt for Team India. A spate of youngsters has risen this tournament, establishing that they are not overdependent on imports. The highest run-getter (Yash Rathod) and the highest wicket-taker (Harsh Dubey) and the man of the match in the final (Danish Malewar) were Vidarbhians. There are other promising talents like Parth Rekhade, the star in the Mumbai hammering. In a few years’ time some of them could don the India stripes. The arid Central Indian plain is now a fertile ground for Indian cricket.
