Karnataka Defeats Vidarbha in a Thrilling Vijay Hazare Trophy Final

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In a nail-biting encounter at the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 final, Karnataka edged out Vidarbha by 36 runs to break a five-year trophy drought. The high-scoring clash, held at the iconic KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, saw over 650 runs scored.

Centuries from R Smaran and Dhruv Shorey dominated the game. Put in to bat, Karnataka overcame early setbacks to post a formidable 348/6. Devdutt Padikkal's dismissal in the sixth over and Mayank Agarwal's departure for 32 left the team struggling at 67/3.

However, R Smaran (101) and KL Shrijith (78) staged a remarkable 160-run partnership, anchoring the innings. Shrijith's confident footwork and Smaran's calculated aggression laid a strong foundation.

Later, Abhinav Manohar's explosive 42-ball 79 propelled Karnataka to a strong finish. Manohar's innings featured clean strikes, including a series of boundaries off Nachiket Bhute and Yash Thakur, adding 83 runs in the final seven overs.

Vidarbha's chase started brightly, but early wickets dented their momentum. Yash Rathod's dismissal for 22 and Karun Nair's departure for 27 off a sharp Prasidh Krishna delivery left them in a precarious position. Dhruv Shorey's masterful 110 and Harsh Dubey's blistering 63 off 30 balls kept Vidarbha's hopes alive.

Dubey's late surge, including a 25-ball half-century, brought the equation down to 37 off the final 12 balls. However, his valiant effort ended when he holed out to deep midwicket off Abhilash Shetty, leaving Vidarbha all out for 312.

Smaran's century in just his first full season and Manohar's finishing prowess were instrumental in Karnataka's victory. For Vidarbha, Shorey's third consecutive century and Dubey's late fireworks stood out. Karun Nair, despite his early dismissal, ended the tournament as the top scorer.

He has scored 779 runs at an average of 389.50. Reflecting on the match, Smaran said, "The key was to stay calm and build partnerships. Credit to Manohar for his exceptional finish." Karnataka's bowlers, led by Koushik (3/47) and Shetty (3/58), sealed the win.