Vidarbha’s Yash Rathod’s unbeaten 97 and Akshay Wadkar’s 77 propelled the team to a commanding position in their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Madhya Pradesh. Resuming on 13 for one, Vidarbha lost nightwatchman Akshay Wakhare early but Dhruv Shorey and Aman Mokhade steadied the innings with an 84-run stand.
However, left-arm spinner Kumar Kartikeya broke the partnership, and Vidarbha found themselves in trouble at 161 for five. Enter Rathod and Wadkar, who forged a crucial 158-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Rathod, playing in only his seventh First-Class game, showed maturity beyond his years, while Wadkar provided solid support.
The pitch, which had been lively in the first two days, seemed to have eased out, allowing Rathod and Wadkar to play with confidence. They exploited the conditions to pile on runs, leaving the MP bowlers frustrated.
Towards the end of the day, Wadkar fell to pacer Anubhav Agarwal, but Rathod remained unbeaten on 97. Vidarbha ended the day on 343 for six, leading by a handy 261 runs.
Rathod’s innings was a testament to his talent and determination. The 22-year-old has been in impressive form this season, and his knock in this crucial match has further enhanced his reputation.
With two days remaining in the match, Vidarbha will be confident of pushing for a victory. Madhya Pradesh, on the other hand, will need to find a way to break the Rathod-led resistance and get back into the contest.
