NAGPUR: In the pre-Covid era, Vidarbha and Kerala shared similar status as Ranji title wannabes, with both vying for the same prize. While Vidarbha emerged toppers and have earned their stripes since, Kerala are still searching for glory.
This time around, upstarts Kerala finally have their chance after roaring into the final. In 2017-18, Kerala reached the last-eight stage for the first time. Next year, they went a rung higher, reaching the semifinals. Both times, Kerala's tryst with destiny was cut short by Vidarbha, at Wayanad and Surat respectively. Vidarbha, on the other hand, emerged champions in both seasons.
Can the Sachin Baby-led Kerala side put it past Vidarbha this time? Vidarbha skipper Akshay Wadkar, for one, doesn't think so. "When we won the Ranji Trophy back-to-back, we defeated Kerala first in the quarterfinal and then in the semifinal. That is a big plus for us going into tomorrow's final," Wadkar said.
Going by current form, though, Vidarbha doesn't need the mind games. The former champions are in dominant form, posting eight outright wins in nine matches and a solitary draw. Kerala have won thrice, while drawing the rest of six matches. Vidarbha batters have scored 13 centuries this season. Kerala in comparison have just three tons from their batters.
Yash Rathod is leading Vidarbha's batting charge with 933 runs and five centuries. Skipper Wadkar, Karun Nair, and Danish Malewar have scored 550-plus runs this season. Kerala's batting has mostly revolved around Salman Nizar, Mohammed Azharuddeen and skipper Sachin Baby.
In the bowling department, Vidarbha have Harsh Dubey, the leading wicket taker of the season with 66 scalps. Still, it's Kerala who have an upper hand in the spin department. They boast the experience and variety of off spinner Jalaj Saxena and left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate, who till last year played for Vidarbha.
Both the camps face no injury issues going into the final. Aditya Thakare, Vidarbha's leading pacer has recovered from the hamstring niggle that kept him out of the semifinal against Mumbai. The Jamtha Stadium pitch has a fair covering of grass but is expected to dry out under the harsh sun by Day 2. Though Vidarbha are playing at home, Kerala skipper Sachin Baby said he was confident of a good show.
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