RANJI TROPHY | A dominant Vidarbha welcomes TN for a place in the semifinals

Yash Rathod is Vidarbha’s leading run-getter this season in the Ranji Trophy. x
| Photo Credit: File photo: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

A rampaging Vidarbha will look to continue its regal march in the Ranji Trophy when it takes on Tamil Nadu in the quarterfinals, which starts here at the VCA ground on Saturday.

Vidarbha, last year’s runner-up, dominated the group stages and finished on top of Group B with 40 points — the highest in the Elite group — posting six outright wins. In three of those victories, it did so after conceding the first-innings lead, including in the last outing against Hyderabad.

For the two-time champion, Yash Rathod (603 runs) and skipper Akshay Wadkar (556) have led the batting charts, while Karun Nair (440) has scored two vital centuries.

Akshay Wadkar has led Vidharbha superbly with his bat in this edition of the Ranji Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
File photo: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey has been a key architect of the team’s success, taking 55 wickets — the highest in the competition this season — and also chipped in with the bat, striking three half-centuries (308).

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu comes into the contest following its first outright loss this season to Jharkhand in the final league fixture. While the bowling has been disciplined despite injuries to frontline pacers, the team’s batting has been inconsistent so far, and the team would look to address it. The arrival of top-order bat B. Sai Sudharsan — who might slot at number three — and pacer R. Sonu Yadav should bolster the side.

Harsh Dubey with 55 wickets has been a key architect in Vidarbha’s run so far in the Ranji Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
File photo: EMMANUAL YOGINI

“We are confident. If we play to our potential, we can give any team a run for their money. Our challenge is more about handling our insecurities and negativities than the opponents,” said TN captain R. Sai Kishore.

The red-soil pitch had a generous grass covering, and the seamers could have a role to play, especially in the morning sessions. Vidarbha is likely to draft in pacer Nachiket Bhute for a spinner, while TN has to make a call on how to draft in an extra pacer without compromising its batting depth or the spin attack.