Karnataka vs Vidarbha Highlights, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25 Final: KAR beat VID by 36 runs in Vadodara

That's been the plan, just to take the game deep, that's been my gameplan, glad it paid off today. Me and Shrijith have batted a lot together, we knew the wicket was good to bat. We just looked to take the game on, we were getting a boundary every over and it was about putting the pressure back. The gameplan was always to get around 5-6 runs an over, fortunately every over through the middle we got 4-5 singles and a boundary. We wanted to show intent. Right from the first match, that's been the role given to me, I try to stick to that and take the game deep.

I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us. All of us performed at different stages. Would like to congralutate our entire team for the way we played our cricket and the way we followed the process. Would also like to thank our support staff. Still have a long season to go and many more games to win. It's a mixture of lot of things, we gave 20-25 runs extra, they batted well. We started well but we lost wickets at regular intervals and that made it difficult for us. It was a great game of cricket, congratulations to Karnataka. If we had a few wickets at the end maybe it would have been different. It was about sticking to my gameplan, couple of years of hardwork and everything going right together, having that confidence and backing is what's been working. I'd like to keep that going.

Well, Harsh Dubey pulled one off Abhilash and the ball hit the top of the bat and was caught on the boundary at cow-corner. That was the final wicket as Nalkande against Prasidh played a nothing shot in the previous over which already yielded plenty and was caught at long-on. It is that wicket which forced Dubey the next over to hit every ball for a boundary as he was with Yash Thakur the final batter and might be the reason he lost his wicket and this game. Vidarbha had their moments in the game in the chase but Karnataka just pressed on when they had their opportunity. What a cracking game of cricket we had folks spare though for Dhruv Shorey who scored the ton but it went in vain.

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Vidarbha are fighting hard here. They have not given up on this game yet. Though the lower-order batters have not batted much they are showing their mettle here. Though Karnataka seems highly favourites to win this game given this contest has gone so far there might be another big over around the corner.

Koushik has come back and killed the final hope in Vidarbha if there is any at this stage. First, it was Wankhede who played an ugly swipe across and missed the ball and was judged LBW. Then it was Nachiket who missed a straight ball which hit the middle stump. It seems like Karnataka will be the champions. Vidarbha has fought hard but not good enough on the evening.

Harsh Dubey has played some big shots here in the last couple of overs and the momentum has swung slightly. However, Vidarbha has still a lot of work to do. But Karnataka for some odd reason just seems to be a touch panicky at this point. Mayank has been great with his captaincy this evening but he just seems to miss a trick with Hardik Raj's over-stacking up.

Dhruv Shorey has been dismissed now and that might be it for Vidarbha in this final. Abhilash has dug on in short and Shorey tried to pull one and the fielder at cow-corner once again had to run a quarter of the way to take the catch. Shorey did look disgruntled but what else he could have done with wickets tumbling and run rate just climbing up?

Prasidh Krishna comes back for a spell and picks a wicket. It was a short wide one and Shubam trying to carve one over the point got the top edge and the square leg on the boundary had to come in quarter of the way in to get the catch. This is getting quite tricky now for Vidarbha. Someone needs to just support Dhruv Shorey here.

Dhruv Shorey scores a ton here. He pummels one down the ground of Prasidh to get to his landmark. What a fabulous inning this has been from him. Despite the chaos from the other end he kept his composure and has played an excellent hand. Vidarbha needs an innings like Abhinav Manohar if they have to get closer in this game.

Jitesh Sharma has departed here Koushik gets the breakthrough. He tried to play across through the mid-wicket region arguably however, could not get the timing right and ended up giving a catch to the long-on fielder. It was on the cards was the wicket as Vidarbha were starting to lose momentum. This is good from Karnataka they are just chipping away.

The run rate has taken a dip here. We are at that point in the chase where one of the batters needs to have a go at the bowling. It is at that delicate point where Jitesh is suddenly facing a lot of dots and Shorey who was batting very well from the other end just seems to have lost momentum in his own knock. Vidarbha needs a couple of overs which can be 20-25 runs just to ease of the pressure a bit.

Seamers have been brought into the attack for second spells by Mayank Agarwal here. There are still no signs of dew yet. The oddball is keeping low from time to time at one end. The one which Koushik is operating from right now. However, the partnership is building nicely once again. Jitesh once again since coming in has breezed through his innings nicely.

Shorey is playing with a lovely tempo here. It is his innings which might decide where this game might end. It has been Kohlisc's kind of batting effort where he has rotated the strike nicely and looked very organised. However, it is important that he carries on and does not worry too much about what is happening at the other end. If he ends up with 140-150 Vidarbha will be there and thereabouts in this chase.

Both the spinners are tightening the screw here and this is the passage of play where Smaran and Shrijith got away in the first innings when Nair opted to use his part-timers and they got themselves in and started to take on bowling. However, Mayank has made sure that the spinners are not just holding bowlers but has given them the right ends and fields to try and push for a wicket.

Kadam is gone. The experiment to push him up the order to tackle the spinners has not worked. He tried to slog-sweep 18-year-old Hardik Raj and missed the ball completely and was trapped in front of the wicket. Karnataka is chipping away with wickets here. This is what Vidarbha lacked in the middle overs bowlers who can create chances.

Spinners are operating at either end for Karnataka and it is an interesting passage of play. There is no turn yet but the oddball pitched around the full-length area is keeping a touch low. The wicket of Nair too came from this end when Prasidh hit that area. There are visible cracks right from the start of the game seems like just one of those is reacting to the sunlight.

Vidarbha has changed the batting order here. Jitesh Sharma had to walk into the middle however, Kadam did. Kadam is a left-hander and that might be a match-up move as Karnataka has two spinners one of whom is a leg-spinner and the other is a left-arm spinner. With both of them turning the ball in the idea might be to play some shots as left-hander.

Karun Nair departs. It is vintage Prasidh bowls it all over the place and delivers peach of deliveries in the midst of them. The field was set up for back-of-lenght deliveries and he bowled a full incoming delivery which Karun tried to defend and was bowled. For all the runs Prasidh has conceded he did give the breakthrough which is what Mayank would be caring about at this point.

Vidarbha has batted well so far and they can afford to bat at this tempo for another four-five overs post which they might re-assess how they want to go about these chases. The calculation of when to attack and when not to attack needs to be even more precise than what it requires in T20s. They cannot leave it to late or start going at it too quickly and lose wickets in clusters.

The first powerplay is done here. While Vidarbha would be happy with the scoring rate what they would not be liking is the wickets column. Though it is only one wicket the one who has followed the tournament would know that the bulk of the runs from Vidarbha this season have come from their top four and to chase 349 once again it has to come from them.

Karun Nair has walked in and is playing some crisp shots straight to the fielders. If those deliveries had hit the gaps Nair's innings would have been underway by now. Shorey on the other end is looking quite composed and is playing some nice shots. He is coming on back of a terrific ton in the semif-final and is in good form.

Rathod tried to work the ball around the fourth stump on the leg side and got the edge to slip. It is left-arm seamer Abhilash who replaced Parsidh Krishna who does the damage. Karun Nair has come in early here. One thing which the chasing teams in the sub-continent always have to be wary of is the moving ball initially under lights.

It has been a wavered start from Karnataka bowlers. While Karnataka has a more rounded attack and bowlers who are penetrative they need to be disciplined. Prasidh, especially has been spraying all over the place and Rathod who is in good touch is feasting up on his half-volleys. Prasidh has to sort himself out here as he is easing out the pressure at the moment.

The chase is underway here. Shorey and Rathod are in the middle for Vidarbha. They have had a fabulous campaign so far and they need to do one more time to ensure Vidarbha has the trophy. For Karnataka on the other side, Koushik and Prasidh Krishna have taken the new ball. They just might get some moment here early on.

The chase will be underway shortly. Vidarbha is the most in-form batting team hence this is going to be a fascinating second half despite Karnataka scoring a mamoth total. However, at this juncture it is definitely an advantage for Karnataka and Vidarbha has all the hard work to do in this game.

Those are special performances. We did have a chat, no doubt. at the moment to find spot in this team is very difficult. look at the guys who have been picked, all average in excess of 40.

Rohit Sharma (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja

Well, that's the end of the innings and it is a mammoth total by Karnataka. Smaran has played a crucial knock under the circumstances with Srijith playing a good second Fidel. However, once Abhinav Manohar has walked into the middle he has changed the complexion of this contest. As per Vidarbha bowlers did bowl good first spells as the innings went on Karnataka batters were too hot to handle

Nalkande had a day to forget until that 49th over when he picked up both Smaran and Abhinav Manohar. It might be a touch too late however, it will minimise the damage. We never know how valuable these can be.

Smaran has reached his ton. It was a fabulous knock when he came into the middle Vidarbha was in a bit of a pickle. However, he counterpunched right from ball one and maintained a nice balance between attack and defense which is what helped Karnataka to put the score they have put right now. He has stiched nice partnership with Srijith early on and now is doing a fabulous job with Manohar.

Yash Thakur is being taken apart here. He is erring in lines and lengths and Manohar is feasting up on it at this point in time. The wicket does not have help in it for slower ones and none of the Vidarbha bowlers have the pace to speak of that can trouble the batters Thakur who does have pace had his goto variton as a slower one which almost makes every bowler the same.

Manohar has played nicely here so far. It is not easy coming after a big partnership and continuing the momentum flawlessly as he did. He scored some authoritative boundaries and also rotated the strike nicely. Once again it is the lack of penetration from other bowlers except Yash Thakur who is letting this partnership grow.

Karnataka has got to 250 here and with about eight overs left 330 is something which they should get and it would not be a bad total on this one. However, one advantage Vidarbha has is they have a strong batting unit and there might be dew in the second innings which will quicken up the surface under lights which might make batting a touch easier.

Just when it looked like things were running away from Vidarbha Kadam picked up Shrijith. He tried to hit the ball down the ground however, he could not keep it down and Kadam took a decent return catch. Shrijith did play well nevertheless it was a soft dismissal and probably could have been avoided as well from Karnataka's perspective.

One evident thing is apart from Yash Thakur none of the other bowlers from Vidarbha are genuine wicket-tackers. The likes of Nalkande, Nachiket, and Harsh Dubey though are good holding-up bowlers they are not out-and-out wicket-tackers that is where things have slipped away from them in this innings as once the batters have got themselves in they have been finding spaces with ease. As we update Shrijit departs.

We are done with another water break here. And Karnataka has laid a very good foundation for the final passage of the play. It seemed like Nair had let things drift away but once again there was not much in the wicket where he could have taken some extra risk early by exhausting overs of his prime bowlers. He used part-timers which gave mixed results must be said.

Both players have got to their half-century here and this is the most ominous thing for Vidarbha. The partnership now has to make a decision. One of these batters might look to bat out the innings and the other one might look to change gears and that is how it should. It is that phase of the game in ODI cricket where the foundation is laid.

This has been the 50-over batting of highest quality by Shrijith and Smaran. They have manipulated the ball exceptionally well here in middle overs nothing extravagant to trying to prove a point to the bowler kind of cricket. Put your heads down and do what is required for the team. Bid your time lost balls will come and gaps will open up good old-fashioned ODI cricket.

This is good from Shrijith and Smaran they have taken their eye initially and realized both the spinners operating right now Kadam and Nair do not have too many tricks up their sleeve apart from throwing the ball slower. They have picked their areas in the last fifteen minutes or so and are scoring at 15s. It might be time Nair considers bowling change.

Karun Nair has brought himself into the attack. The slower balls are responding here. It is not turning but it just seems to be like one of those modern batsman things of playing the ball with hard hands. It is the influence of a shorter version. The dismissals of both Mayank and Aneesh early on were also the epitome of it. 

Smaran is batting well here he has played a couple of lovely shots thus far. He has got himself a start however, the challenge for him here is to play an innings of substance. The Vidarbha batting order is as strong as it gets. Unless Karnataka gets to at least 280-300 it becomes difficult for them to contain in the second innings. 

Karnataka needs a partnership here. The batters did look while they lasted and the wickets were soft dismissals. So far the wicket has not shown any signs where it has suggested that batting is difficult. Yes, the slower balls are responding a touch however, it is noon and things might get better in the evening under the lights.

Mayank Agarwal departs. He looked like a million dollars today did the Karnataka skipper however, once again seems like Nachiket delivered a delivery that is a touch on the slower side on the hard length and Mayank Agarwal could not read the pace of the delivery checked in the shot, and hit it straight to that close mid-wicket fielder.

Vidarbha has picked up the second wicket here. It was a soft dismissal in the end. Aneesh drove the ball but could not keep it down seemed like a slower one from Nachiket and was mid-wicket was closer than usual and he took a low catch. Just when it seemed like Karnataka where building a good partnership they lost a wicket. Smaran is the new man.

Mayank Agarwal is batting well here. When the Karnataka skipper is on his full flow he tends to get his backfoot punching almost perfect. Right from ball one he's got that technique right. It has been something of an Achilles heel in his game at times but this is a wicket that has not had much pace and bounce it works and now that he got his eye score is there for the taking.

In the last 10 minutes or so both Mayank and Aneesh have played some crisp shots. They have hit the ball on the up and the bowlers too erred on their lengths which is a cardinal sin to do on this kind of wicket which has nothing for the seamers. Karun Nair is bringing in the changes here in bowling. He has brought in left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey into attack.

This is sharp from Vidarbha. Though there is not much help on the surface they have stuck to their lengths. They have come up with a plan and have stuck to it. It is nothing extravagant it is just medium pacers hitting the hard areas and creating that indecisiveness in the footwork of the batters. That is what undid Padikkal.

The tricky thing for Karnataka here is how many runs are enough. There will be dew in the second innings which they have to considered as well. As we update Padikkal tried to work the ball on the leg side got the leading edge and Shorey who dropped a simple catch early on in the game took a brilliant one this time diving to his right. Yash Thakur gets the breakthrough.

Devdutt Padikkal has been dropped here. It was a regulation catch to first slip Dhruv Shorey. It was a nothing shot from Padikkal there were no feet moments he just poked out at one on the fourth stump. There was no intent to drive and there was no intent to defend either. He needs to sort it out Padikkal here as he is looking a little vulnerable around that off-stump channel.

Nalkande and Thakur have taken the new ball for Vidarbha. Nalkande pitched a few up looking for some swing however, there was nothing in it and Mayank Agarwal drove a couple of sumptuous shots through covers to get the scoring underway. It will be interesting to see how Vidarbha pacers will look to pick wickets with this new ball if there is no swing on offer.

"There is good hardness. No matches have been played, this is a fresh pitch. This is a center wicket with 70 yard boundary all around. You should bat first if you win the toss. Vidarbha made 380 while batting first and that's what you should do in a knockout game. There are cracks, the ball has kept up and down, it is still good for batting, but it might get difficult while batting second. As a bowler you need to keep it wicket to wicket and let the batter make the mistake," reckon Ashok Malhotra and Chetan Sharma.

We won't mind that (batting first). Put runs on the board and put pressure on them. That plays a big role (runs in a knockout game) but having said that we have to put a good score on the board. Credit to the guys for turning up and soaking in the pressure. All of them have stood up and it is great to have Devdutt and Prasidh back. We have made an environment in the team which allows everyone to excel. We are playing the same team.

We are going to have a bowl first. That has been our plan right through the tournament and we are sticking to that. We have been batting really well, we bat deep and long, it is something that is working for us. It is a new day and a new challenge for someone to put their hand up. I am lucky enough to be part of five finals and we all look forward to play such games. We have one change - Yash comes in for Parth.

The conditions look excellent for cricket. The ground is empty at this point, so we might expect some fans to come in as the day goes on. It is going to Vidarbha with the new ball and Mayank Agarwal alongside Padikkal who will walk in.

Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik said he don’t think that in-form batter Karun Nair will make it into India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan and the UAE.

Without doubt, Karun Nair has given selectors a name to ponder over, as an unreal average of 752 can’t be brushed aside by merely citing a packed batting line-up. The 33-year-old is yet to get out in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy. (Read more)

Dhruv Shorey, Yash Rathod, Karun Nair(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Shubham Dubey, Apoorv Wankhade, Harsh Dubey, Nachiket Bhute, Yash Kadam, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Thakur

Mayank Agarawal(c), Devdutt Padikkal, Aneesh KV, Smaran Ravichandran, Krishnan Shrijith(w), Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Hardik Raj, Prasidh Krishna, Vasuki Koushik, Abhilash Shetty

ON a day when Vidarbha openers Yash Rathod and Dhruv Shorey scored well-crafted centuries, it was their captain Karun Nair who once again remained the headline act as they outclassed Maharashtra by 69 runs to enter the Vijay Hazare Trophy final. A fifth straight List A ton was missed by 12 runs, yet his unbeaten knock of 88 from 44 deliveries would have been noticed by the national selectors before they pick the squad for the Champions Trophy on Sunday.

With all the noise around domestic performances not being rewarded, it would be interesting to see if they are able to find a spot for Nair in the 15-member squad. A strong showing in the final against his former team Karnataka is probably the seal that Nair now needs to make the cut. (Read more)