Bengaluru: A compelling battle between two evenly matched sides awaits as Saurashtra and Vidarbha lock horns in the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Sunday at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
With Saurashtra chasing a third title and Vidarbha eyeing a maiden crown, the summit clash promises high-quality cricket rather than star power. Neither side boasts household names, but both have functioned like well-oiled units throughout the tournament, combining discipline, depth and clarity of roles to outplay more fancied opponents on their route to the final.
Saurashtra’s campaign has been anchored by skipper Harvik Desai, the team’s leading run-scorer with 561 runs, while Vishvaraj Jadeja provided the defining moment in the semifinal, hammering a scintillating century to knock out Punjab. Their batting has been marked by composure and timely acceleration, traits that have served them well in pressure situations.
Vidarbha, meanwhile, have leaned heavily on a prolific top order. Opener Aman Mokhade has been the standout batter of the tournament, topping the charts with 781 runs. His semifinal hundred against Karnataka at the same venue was a lesson in controlled aggression and chase management. Dhruv Shorey (515 runs) has been equally consistent, while Ravikumar Samarth has added solidity in the middle order with 427 runs.
If the batting numbers suggest little to choose between the two, the bowling attacks tell a similar story. Saurashtra’s pace duo of Ankur Panwar (21 wickets) and Chetan Sakariya (15) have struck early and closed out innings effectively at the death. Vidarbha have matched them with the young pairing of Nachiket Bhut and Yash Thakur, both with 15 wickets, while Darshan Nalkande has been a reliable option in the middle and closing overs—his late burst in the semifinal underlining his temperament on the big stage.
Conditions could play a decisive role. Dew has been a significant factor in Bengaluru, making the toss crucial. Teams chasing have won four of the six knockout matches across the two Centre of Excellence grounds, a trend that may tempt the captains to bowl first and limit the impact of spinners in the second innings. That said, Vidarbha’s young skipper and left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey could still have a say if he manages to control the scoring early.
Beyond tactics and conditions, the final will hinge on nerves. Vidarbha, runners-up last season, will be eager to go one step further, while Saurashtra will draw confidence from their past success in the competition. With momentum, form and belief evenly balanced, Sunday’s final shapes up as a fitting climax to the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Source: ESPN Cricinfo, ET
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