Irani Cup 2025: Veterans Clash in Vidarbha vs. Rest of India Showdown

Two weeks ago, Akshay Wadkar and his Vidarbha teammates were part of the Central Zone squad, led by Rajat Patidar, that clinched the Duleep Trophy. Now, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha near Nagpur, Wadkar and Patidar are set to lead opposing teams in the prestigious Irani Cup.

The upcoming match between Vidarbha, the reigning Ranji Trophy champions, and the Rest of India, captained by Patidar, promises to be a thrilling contest between well-acquainted rivals. In recent years, the overlap of players across domestic, India A, and IPL teams has blurred the lines between teammates and competitors.

This time, the familiarity adds an extra layer of excitement. Starting Wednesday, weather permitting, Wadkar and Patidar will aim to outmaneuver each other with tactics and skill.

For the Rest of India, this game serves as an opportunity for several players to showcase their talent to national selectors. Fast bowler Akash Deep is set to return to competitive action following an injury during the demanding England tour. Abhimanyu Easwaran, having been on the sidelines during the same series, is eager to make a mark with the bat. Ruturaj Gaikwad, recovering from a mild fever, hopes for a standout performance, while Ishan Kishan aims to reinforce his presence.

Meanwhile, Vidarbha will lean on its younger players to step up. Yash Rathod, who seamlessly transitioned his Ranji form into the Duleep Trophy, and left-arm allrounder Harsh Dubey, both seek to catch the eye of the Indian selectors. Danish Malewar, a standout from last season, is eager to continue his swift progression on the bigger stage. With Karun Nair’s return to Karnataka after three successful seasons, Vidarbha faces a selection challenge. The choice between specialist batter Aman Mokhade or the versatility of Akshay Karnewar could be pivotal in achieving team balance.

The Irani Cup is set to be a fiercely contested tournament, where reputations will be challenged, and prospects for future possibilities could be shaped.

Teams:

Vidarbha: Akshay Wadkar (Capt., wk), Atharva Taide, Danish Malewar, Shivam Deshmukh, Yash Kadam, Yash Rathod (VC), Harsh Dubey, Aman Mokhade, Akshay Karnewar, Darshan Nalkande, Aditya Thakare, Dhruv Shorey, Nachiket Bhute, Parth Rekhade, Yash Thakur, Praful Hinge.
Coach: Usman Ghani

Rest of India: Rajat Patidar (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Aryan Juyal (WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad (VC), Yash Dhull, Shaikh Rasheed, Ishan Kishan (WK), Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Saransh Jain.
Coach: Amay Khurasiya.

Published on Sep 30, 2025