Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy Dreams Shattered by Bonus Points System in Nagpur
On the very day the Union Budget was being presented in New Delhi, the cricketing fraternity in Vidarbha experienced a harsh lesson in the importance of bonus points. The defending champions of the Ranji Trophy were shockingly knocked out of the prestigious domestic tournament, despite finishing as joint toppers from Elite Group ‘A’. Their exit was sealed not by a loss on the field, but by a numerical disadvantage in bonus points compared to rivals Andhra and Jharkhand.
A Triumphant Victory Overshadowed by Mathematical Elimination
Vidarbha concluded their league stage campaign with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Uttar Pradesh at the Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur on Sunday. This win earned them six crucial points, bringing their total to 31 points from four victories. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Andhra and Jharkhand also accumulated 31 points with an identical number of wins. The tie-breaker came down to bonus points, where Vidarbha's solitary bonus point proved insufficient against Jharkhand's three and Andhra's two.
This outcome relegated Vidarbha to third place in the group, with Jharkhand topping the standings and Andhra securing the second spot. The defending champions, therefore, found themselves unceremoniously ousted from the knockout race, their title defense ending in the league stage itself.
The Follies of a Previous Match Come Back to Haunt Vidarbha
The seeds of this disappointment were sown in Vidarbha's previous encounter against Andhra. In that match, Vidarbha had secured a promising 67-run first innings lead, putting Andhra firmly on the mat. However, a dramatic and rare batting order collapse over two sessions saw Vidarbha succumb to defeat. This loss not only cost them valuable points but, more critically, deprived them of potential bonus points that ultimately decided their fate.
Against Uttar Pradesh, the chase of a 201-run target was tense. Resuming Day 4 at 91 for 4 on a tricky pitch, the innings was masterfully anchored by two young talents. Aman Mokhade, the find of the season for Vidarbha, and Danish Malewar displayed remarkable composure. Mokhade, resuming his innings from an overnight score of 50, and Malewar, who followed up his first-innings 80 with a vital 54, blunted the Uttar Pradesh attack. Their responsible 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket was the cornerstone of the victory.
Mokhade top-scored with a patient 83, while contributions from Harsh Dubey and Nachiket Bhute completed the formalities. For his twin fifties in the match, Danish Malewar, making a comeback from injury, was deservedly named Player of the Match.
A Bittersweet Victory and an Anxious Wait
Despite the convincing win, there were no immediate celebrations in the Vidarbha camp. Instead of reveling in their triumph over Uttar Pradesh, the players and team management remained on edge throughout the afternoon. Their hopes were pinned on the result of the concurrent Jharkhand versus Odisha match in Jamshedpur. A draw or a Jharkhand defeat would have opened the door for Vidarbha's qualification to the knockouts.
This long, anxious wait culminated in profound disappointment as news confirmed Jharkhand's victory, sealing Vidarbha's elimination. The four-wicket win in Nagpur, achieved with grit and skill, was rendered hollow by events in another city, highlighting the unpredictable and often unforgiving nature of league-stage calculations in cricket tournaments.
BRIEF SCORES: Uttar Pradesh: 237 all out in 68.5 overs & 200 all out in 77.3 overs lost to Vidarbha: 237 all out in 63 overs & (overnight 91 for 4): (Aman Mokhade 83, Danish Malewar 54, Harsh Dubey 17*; Shivam Sharma 4-55) by four wickets.
