Vidarbha Tighten Grip in Irani Cup Showdown
In a commanding display at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Vidarbha extended their lead over Rest of India to 224 runs by the end of Day 3 of the 2025 Irani Cup. The visitors suffered an early blow—losing a wicket off the very first ball of the day—setting the tone for another tough session in their chase .
Day 3 Breakdown: From 197 to 224-Run Lead
After posting a solid first-innings total of 342—powered by Atharva Taide’s brilliant 143 and Yash Rathod’s 91—Vidarbha bowled out Rest of India for just 214. In their second innings, Vidarbha reached 93/2 in 35.6 overs before bad light halted play, pushing their overall lead to 224 runs .
Key Performers: Vidarbha’s All-Round Dominance
| Player | Role | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Atharva Taide | Batter | 143 runs in 1st innings |
| Yash Rathod | Batter | 91 runs in 1st innings |
| Akash Deep | Bowler | 3/51 in ROI’s 1st innings |
| Manav Suthar | Bowler | 3/74 + crucial Day 3 wicket |
Rest of India’s Struggles Continue
- Lost opener Dhruv Shorey on the first ball of Day 3 to Manav Suthar
- Collapsed to 214 all out in response to Vidarbha’s 342
- Faced pressure from Vidarbha’s disciplined pace attack and sharp fielding
Infographic: Irani Cup 2025 – Match Snapshot (End of Day 3)
Caption: Vidarbha players celebrate a wicket during their dominant performance in Nagpur. [Source: ESPNcricinfo]
What’s Next?
With a 224-run lead and eight wickets in hand, Vidarbha are in a near-impregnable position heading into Day 4. Rest of India will need a miraculous bowling performance to avoid defeat—especially if Vidarbha’s middle order continues its momentum .