Vidarbha exorcise 2025 final demons to clinch maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title

Vidarbha finally shed the weight of last year’s heartbreak to script history, clinching their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title with a commanding 38-run victory over Saurashtra in the final at Bengaluru on January 18, 2026. Twelve months after tasting defeat in their first-ever final, Vidarbha returned wiser, tougher and far more ruthless when it mattered most.

In the 2025 final at Vadodara, Vidarbha’s fairytale run had ended painfully as Karnataka outplayed them by 46 runs. That loss lingered as unfinished business, and on Sunday, it fuelled a performance built on composure and clarity. Asked to set a target, Vidarbha came out firing, led by a magnificent century from Atharva Taide. The opener anchored the innings with a superb 128 off 118 balls, striking 15 fours and three sixes, perfectly balancing aggression with responsibility on the big stage.

Taide found solid support from Yash Rathod, who chipped in with a composed 54, as Vidarbha steadily built momentum through the middle overs. Late cameos ensured the pressure stayed on Saurashtra, with Vidarbha finishing on a formidable 317 for 8. For Saurashtra, Ankur Panwar was the standout with four wickets, but the damage had already been



done.

Chasing 318, Saurashtra never truly found their rhythm. Early wickets dented their chase, and while Prerak Mankad played a valiant knock of 88 to keep hopes alive, support was fleeting. Chirag Jani’s brisk 64 briefly threatened to swing momentum, but Vidarbha’s bowlers responded with discipline and intent. Yash Thakur led the attack with four wickets, while Nachiket Bhute claimed three, ensuring Saurashtra were bowled out for 279 in 48.5 overs.

For Saurashtra, a side with two Vijay Hazare titles to their name, it was another near miss, finishing runners-up for the second time. For Vidarbha, it was redemption of the highest order. From the pain of last year’s final loss to lifting the trophy at last, their journey came full circle — a triumph forged through resilience, belief and the hunger to rewrite their own history.

Brief Scores

Vidarbha: 317/8 in 50 overs. Atharva Taide (128), Yash Rathod (54); Ankur Panwar (4/65), Chetan Sakariya (2/45)

Saurashtra: 279 all out in 48.5 overs. Prerak Mankad (88), Chirag Jani (64); Yash Thakur (4/50), Nachiket Bhute (3/46)

Result: Vidarbha beat Saurashtra by 38 runs