Vidarbha vs Saurashtra Vijay Hazare Trophy Final: Live Streaming, Match Preview & Key Players

Indian domestic cricket’s premier one-day tournament reaches its climax on Sunday, January 18, 2026, as Vidarbha and Saurashtra clash in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final. This title decider promises fireworks, with Vidarbha seeking their maiden trophy and Saurashtra hunting their third crown.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Final 2026: Match Details

The Road to the Final

Vidarbha stormed into their second consecutive final by defeating defending champions Karnataka by six wickets in the semi-final. Aman Mokhade was the star performer, smashing an unbeaten 138 to anchor the chase of 281 runs. His remarkable consistency saw him surpass Devdutt Padikkal to become the tournament’s leading run-scorer. Supporting him brilliantly was Ravikumar Samarth, who remained unbeaten on 76, guiding Vidarbha home with 22 balls to spare.

Earlier in the innings, pacer Darshan Nalkande ripped through Karnataka’s batting lineup with figures of 5 for 48, setting up the victory. After losing last year’s final to Karnataka by 36 runs, Vidarbha are hungry for redemption and their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy title.

Saurashtra dominated their semi-final against Punjab, securing a nine-wicket victory with over 10 overs remaining. The hero was Vishvaraj Jadeja, who delivered a sensational unbeaten 165 off just 127 balls, featuring 18 boundaries and three sixes. His match-winning knock included a 172-run opening partnership with captain Harvik Desai (64) and an unbroken 121-run stand with Prerak Mankad (52*).

Chasing 292, Saurashtra made the target look effortless, racing to victory in just 39.3 overs. Earlier, Chetan Sakariya was the bowling star with 4 for 60, triggering a Punjab collapse from 275 for four to 291 all out. Saurashtra, two-time champions (last winning in 2022-23), enter the final as favorites.

Key Players to Watch

For Vidarbha, all eyes will be on Aman Mokhade, whose fifth List A century of the season demonstrated his class under pressure. The 22-year-old has been in phenomenal form, equaling the record for the quickest 1000 runs in List A cricket (just 16 innings). Alongside him, Ravikumar Samarth’s calm presence and Darshan Nalkande’s wicket-taking ability will be crucial.

Saurashtra will rely heavily on the explosive Vishvaraj Jadeja, whose third century of the campaign came at the perfect time. Captain Harvik Desai provides stability at the top, while experienced campaigners Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya lead the bowling attack. Prerak Mankad’s all-round abilities add depth to their balanced lineup.

The History Between These Teams

Interestingly, Vidarbha have never beaten Saurashtra in either List A or T20 cricket. However, they recently broke a similar jinx by defeating Karnataka for the first time in the semi-final, proving that past records mean little on big match days. This final offers Vidarbha the perfect opportunity to rewrite history.

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The Prediction

This promises to be a high-scoring encounter on a Bengaluru batting paradise. Saurashtra’s experience and explosive batting give them a slight edge, but Vidarbha’s hunger for their maiden title and Mokhade’s red-hot form make them dangerous opponents. Expect a thrilling contest that could go down to the wire.

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