Atharva Taide’s magnificent century propelled Vidarbha to their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-2026 title on January 18, following a decisive victory over Saurashtra at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. Set a formidable target of 318, Saurashtra's chase ultimately faltered as they were bowled out for 279, handing Vidarbha a historic 38-run win in the tournament's final.
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Vidarbha clinch maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title
Vidarbha's innings was built on a powerful foundation after they were put in to bat. Taide and Aman Mokhade—who ended a spectacular individual season with 814 runs—provided a dominant 80-run opening stand. Following Mokhade’s dismissal, Taide joined forces with Yash Rathod to push the score to 213 for two. The left-handed opener was the star of the show, crafting a stylish century off 97 deliveries that featured 15 boundaries and three sixes.
However, Taide's exit with 14 overs remaining shifted the momentum, sparking a middle-order collapse. Saurashtra’s Ankur Panwar took advantage of the opening, finishing with impressive figures of four for 65 to restrict Vidarbha to 317 for eight. Despite this late-innings wobble, the total proved to be more than enough for Vidarbha to secure their maiden championship.
Atharva Taide's masterful 128 in Vidarbha's win
After Vidarbha posted a massive total of 317/8, anchored by Atharva Taide’s masterful 128, Saurashtra faced a steep uphill climb. Their chase ultimately fell short at 279 all out in 48.5 overs, but the scoreline doesn't fully capture the grit they showed. Despite a disastrous start that saw them slip to 30 for two and eventually 112 for four, they refused to go down without a fight.
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The core of Saurashtra’s resistance was a determined 93-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Prerak Mankad and Chirag Jani. Mankad played a resilient knock of 88, while Jani contributed a brisk 64. Their approach was rooted in sensible strike rotation rather than raw aggression, and they were significantly aided by a surprisingly sloppy performance from Vidarbha in the field. Multiple dropped catches and uncharacteristic misfields allowed the duo to extend the game far longer than initially anticipated.
Mankad and Jani both survived scares thanks to Vidarbha's generosity; Mankad was dropped on 70 at mid-wicket, and Jani was put down on 14 at long-on. However, the momentum finally swung back for good when Mankad was trapped leg-before while attempting to cut a delivery from left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey. This breakthrough proved fatal for Saurashtra’s hopes.
Once the set batters were removed—with Darshan Nalkande dismissing Jani via a catch at sweeper cover—Vidarbha’s pace attack closed in for the kill. Yash Thakur led the way with four wickets, while Nachiket Bhute claimed three, efficiently mopping up the tail and handing Vidarbha the historic title.