Vidarbha’s Irani Cup Triumph Signals Readiness for Upcoming Season: Coach Usman Ghani

Rajat Patidar had a unique opportunity to achieve a rare triple by leading teams to victory in the Indian Premier League, Duleep Trophy, and Irani Cup consecutively. Unfortunately, this was interrupted when Vidarbha defeated the Rest of India in the final.

However, coach Usman Ghani successfully secured three titles in one calendar year, guiding teams to victories in the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Irani Cup.

“The Duleep Trophy involves central zone players. While it’s a significant achievement for me as a coach, winning the Irani Cup was particularly important. We were determined to win it, and thankfully, we did,” Ghani shared with Sportstar.

For the complete match report, you can read it here.

Ghani expressed confidence that Vidarbha’s impressive 93-run victory over the Rest of India has set a positive tone for their defense of the Ranji title.

“This victory shows that our previous Ranji Trophy win was no fluke. It proves that our team is strong and ready to challenge all opponents in the upcoming season. This Irani Cup win reinforces our standing for the next season,” Ghani stated.

Ghani wasn’t surprised by Atharva Taide’s first-innings century, which earned the left-handed opener the Player of the Match award.

“Last season, we had to drop him because he wasn’t performing well. As soon as the season ended, we started working on him. He’s very competitive, gave his all, and we focused on refining his technique and areas for improvement. I’m very pleased for him,” he added.

Published on October 5, 2025.