Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Pride at stake for Hyderabad against table-topper Vidarbha

Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Pride at stake for Hyderabad against table-topper Vidarbha

There will not be much at stake other than pride, when Hyderabad travels to Vidarbha for its final Ranji Trophy 2024-25 group-stage fixture starting at the VCA Stadium here on Thursday.

The C.V. Milind-led side is out of contention for a playoff spot from Group B, currently placed fourth with 16 points from six encounters. Meanwhile, Vidarbha has already sealed its progress to the knockout stages and is assured of the top spot in the group regardless of the result in the final game.

It has been a season of promise for the Vidarbha batters, especially Yash Rathod and captain Akshay Wadkar who have already aggregated 500-plus tallies this season. The batting unit has contributed to six totals higher than 300 in as many matches, two of which have aided an innings win.

Hyderabad’s Tanmay Agarwal too has had a season to boast of, currently leading the competition’s run-scoring charts with 792 runs in six matches. But, apart from the left-handed opener, only two batters have managed a triple-figure knock and therein lies the issue.

Left-arm-spinning all-rounder Harsh Dubey has been Vidarbha’s bowling lynchpin this season, picking up 47 wickets, more than anyone else in the competition. Slow left-arm orthodox has also been the successful mode of incursion for Hyderabad with Tanay Thyagarajan (32 wickets) and G. Anikethreddy (26) providing a two-pronged attack.

Hyderabad’s pace battery will receive a major boost following the availability of Mohammed Siraj, who was overlooked for India’s limited-over assignments. The team will be hoping for some new-ball wickets from the frontline pacer to dent the Vidarbha lineup early. Vidarbha has a solitary change from its hard-fought win over Rajasthan in its previous encounter – Yash Thakur replacing Darshan Nalkande.