The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 has entered its final stage, with the two finalist teams confirmed – Kerala and Vidarbha. These teams will compete against each other from February 26 to March 2. Kerala made history by entering the final for the first time, securing a two-run lead in the first innings over Gujarat. Meanwhile, Vidarbha emerged victorious against Mumbai in the second semi-final, winning by 80 runs.
Mohammed Azharuddin’s Century
The Kerala team posted an impressive 455 runs against Gujarat, thanks in part to Mohammed Azharuddin’s outstanding performance. Azharuddin scored 177 runs, earning him the Player of the Match Award. Gujarat was restricted to 455 runs, giving Kerala a slim two-run lead that ultimately proved decisive in their advancement to the finals. On the final day, Kerala needed just three wickets and had to defend only 28 runs. The team’s bowlers, Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate, each took four wickets to secure the win.
Crucial Moments in the Match
Kerala’s captain, Sachin Baby, dropped a catch early on, giving Gujarat’s Jaymeet Patel a reprieve. However, Patel was dismissed soon after, scoring 79 runs in 177 balls. Arjan Nagwaswala, batting at number 10, briefly lifted Gujarat’s hopes with a cover boundary off Akshay Chandran’s ball. Kerala eventually got their second wicket of the day when Sarwate dismissed Siddharth Desai, who had scored 30 runs in 164 balls with just one four.
Unique Dismissal
One of the most remarkable moments in the match came when Arjan Nagwaswala was dismissed in a unique manner. Nagwaswala hit a strong shot and the ball ricocheted off the short leg, hitting Nizar’s helmet before being caught by the baby in the slip. After consulting, the umpires ruled Nagwaswala out according to the rules, sparking celebrations from the Kerala team. In the second innings, Kerala batted comfortably, scoring 114 for four in 46 overs in a drawn match.
The other semi-final saw Vidarbha defeat Mumbai by 80 runs, securing their spot in the final. The stage is now set for an exciting conclusion to the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, with Kerala and Vidarbha vying for the top prize from February 26 to March 2.
