Harsh Dubey : In a high-stakes Ranji Trophy semi-final, Harsh Dubey’s masterful five-wicket haul propelled Vidarbha to a thrilling 80-run victory over defending champions Mumbai, securing their place in the Ranji Trophy final. Despite a valiant fightback from Shardul Thakur (66) and Shams Mulani (46), Vidarbha held their nerve to seal the win in Nagpur.
Harsh Dubey : Harsh Dubey’s Five-Wicket Haul Powers Vidarbha to Ranji Trophy Final Despite Mumbai’s Fightback
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Vidarbha’s Dominance & Dubey’s Heroics
Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey once again proved to be Vidarbha’s match-winner, claiming 5 for 127 in the second innings. His performance took his season tally to 66 wickets, putting him just two wickets short of the all-time Ranji season record held by Ashutosh Aman.
Vidarbha, last year’s finalists, have now reached their fourth Ranji Trophy final, having previously lifted the title in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Mumbai’s Brave Resistance Falls Short
Chasing a daunting 406-run target, Mumbai found themselves in deep trouble at 124 for 6, with key batters Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav departing early. However, Shardul Thakur and Shams Mulani fought back, stitching together a 103-run partnership for the seventh wicket, keeping Mumbai’s hopes alive.
Vidarbha’s spinners, sensing the momentum shift, resorted to defensive tactics, even bowling outside leg-stump to frustrate Thakur. The turning point came when Danish Malewar’s brilliant direct hit caught Mulani short of his crease, breaking the partnership.
With the lower order running out of time, Thakur tried to accelerate but was dismissed by Yash Thakur, leaving Mumbai on the brink of defeat. A late 52-run last-wicket stand between Mohit Awasthi and Royston Dias gave Mumbai a glimmer of hope, but Dubey had the final say, trapping Awasthi lbw to clinch the match.
Vidarbha’s Road to the Final
Vidarbha’s victory was built on strong batting performances, including 151 from opener Atharva Rathod and a crucial 52 from captain Akshay Wadkar. Mumbai’s Shams Mulani (6/85) had earlier led a spirited bowling effort, but Vidarbha’s all-round resilience proved decisive.
With this win, Vidarbha will now face Kerala in the Ranji Trophy final, aiming for their third title.
Can Dubey Break the Ranji Record?
With 66 wickets this season, Harsh Dubey is just two wickets away from breaking the all-time Ranji Trophy season record. His impact with the ball has been crucial for Vidarbha’s success, and he will be one to watch in the final.
