Akshay Wadkar and Aditya Sarwate are the one two cricketers to have featured in every of Vidarbha’s three Ranji Trophy finals thus far. Come Saturday and the duo will but once more enter the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium on the outskirts of Nagpur, albeit with a distinction. In what shall be Vidarbha’s fourth Ranji final, the duo shall be in reverse camps.
While Wadkar — who debuted in Vidarbha’s maiden triumphant season — will lead Vidarbha’s quest for its third Ranji title, Sarwate shall be hoping so as to add one other trophy to his cupboard, having converted to Kerala as a visitor participant in the beginning of the home season.
“It will be slightly odd, no doubt. All of us know each other so well. We hang out together. He is a class bowler, with 300-plus wickets (in First Class cricket) and scores crucial runs whenever the team needs it. But I don’t think it will be too much of a factor,” Wadkar informed The Hindu after celebrating Vidarbha’s victory towards Mumbai on Friday.
Despite heaping reward on his former teammate, Wadkar didn’t budge from cautioning Sarwate. “In fact, if it all it will be a factor, it will be to our advantage. All of us have played with and against him so frequently, so we know exactly his strengths and weaknesses,” Wadkar mentioned.
Left-arm spin allrounder Harsh Dubey has ensured Vidarbha has not felt Sarwate’s absence in any respect this season by filling his footwear to perfection. With a whopping tally of 66 wickets, Dubey is simply three wickets quick of changing into the best wicket-taker in a Ranji season. Add to it his 460 runs decrease down the order, and it proves his price a lot.
“He has been a vital cog for us. Leave the record aside, we just hope he will continue in the same vein in the final,” Wadkar mentioned.
Published – February 22, 2025 07:49 pm IST
