Irani Cup 2025-26: Vidarbha clinch another title as Atharv Taide, Yash Thakur and Yash Rathod deliver match-winning performances against Rest of India.
Vidarbha solidified their reputation as one of India’s most consistent domestic sides by winning the Irani Cup 2025-26 with a 93-run victory over the Rest of India in Nagpur. The five-day match, which was played from October 1-5, 2025, featured a Vidarbha team combining grit with discipline to record the memorable win of their third overall Irani Cup title.
The Vidarbha victory was set up through the contributions of Atharva Taide with a brilliant 143, Yash Rathod’s important 91, and decisive bowling spells from Harsh Dubey and Yash Thakur who took apart the Rest of India batting order in both innings.
Atharva Taide’s ton sets the stage
Batting first on a challenging Nagpur surface, Atharva Taide produced an innings of significance and style that shaped the match. Taide made 143 runs off 283 deliveries, with 15 fours and a six, that not only brought stability to Vidarbha’s innings but also enabled them to post a competitive first innings score of 342.
Taide had excellent temperament against the new ball, combining calmness with accuracy. He established key partnerships, the most significant with Yash Rathod, to soak up the pressure of Rest of India’s pace attack. His hundred was his fifth in first-class cricket and earned him Player of the Match, an indication of how important his innings was in contributing to Vidarbha’s momentum.
Read More: Architects of Central Zone’s Duleep Trophy 2025-26 title win
Rathod’s supporting 91: Backbone of the innings
If Taide provided the flair, Yash Rathod added resilience. Coming in at a pressure moment, the young right-hander compiled a measured 91 off 153 deliveries, decorated with six fours and a six. His knock was instrumental in steadying Vidarbha after early jitters, allowing the side to recover from 85 for 3 to a commanding total past 300.
Rathod’s partnership with Taide was the turning point; the duo frustrated the Rest of India’s bowlers and put Vidarbha in control. Although Rathod fell short of a century, his contribution was no less significant, providing the stability and balance needed to convert a strong start into a match-winning position.
Yash Thakur’s firepower & Harsh Dubey’s spin seal the deal
Once the batters set the tone, it was the bowlers’ turn to finish the job, and Yash Thakur led the charge. The pacer was relentless in the first innings, returning with figures of 4 for 66 in 16.5 overs, including the prized wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Yash Dhull. His early breakthroughs helped bundle Rest of India out for 214, giving Vidarbha a crucial first-innings lead of 128 runs.
In the second innings, it was Harsh Dubey who took center stage. The left-arm spinner displayed remarkable control, claiming 4 for 73, including the final wicket that sealed the victory. His scalps included key names like Easwaran and Ishan Kishan, breaking partnerships just when Rest of India threatened to fight back. Dubey’s spells across both innings (2 wickets in the first, 4 in the second) proved decisive in dismantling the opposition’s middle order.
Together, Thakur and Dubey shared 10 wickets in the match, complementing each other’s strengths and ensuring Vidarbha maintained dominance from start to finish.
Read More: Rajat Patidar scripting quiet resurgence since forgettable Test debut against England in 2024
𝘾.𝙃.𝘼.𝙈.𝙋.𝙄.𝙊.𝙉.𝙎 🏆
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) October 5, 2025
Congratulations and a round of applause for Vidarbha on winning the Irani Cup for the 3rd Time 🙌@IDFCFIRSTBank | #IraniCup pic.twitter.com/PhqYs8cRwh
Rest of India’s resistance falls short
For the Rest of India, Yash Dhull’s valiant 92 off 117 balls in the second innings and Rajat Patidar’s66 in the first provided some resistance, but the side faltered under scoreboard pressure. Chasing 361 for victory, they folded for 267, giving Vidarbha a well-deserved 93-run win.
A Collective Triumph
Vidarbha’s success was not just about individual brilliance, but teamwork and tactical execution. From Taide’s assured hundred to Rathod’s composure, and from Thakur’s precision to Dubey’s guile, every player played their part to perfection.
The win reaffirmed Vidarbha’s depth and resilience in India’s domestic circuit, marking yet another glorious chapter in their growing legacy.
Read More: Who are the Test hopefuls waiting in the wings ahead of India’s 2025-26 home season?
