![Vidarbha reach final of VHT 2025/26 [Source: JioHotstar]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768493479239_AmanMokhadeVijayHazareTrophy.jpg?type=hq)
Vidarbha reach final of VHT 2025/26 [Source: JioHotstar]
Vidarbha took on Karnataka in the first semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru after defeating Delhi in the quarter-final, while the defending champions knocked out Mumbai in their previous clash.
The match between the last season's finalists promised to be a cutthroat battle, with the top-2 run-getters of the season, Aman Mokhade and Devdutt Padikkal, involved and the runner-ups from 2024/25 finally managed to go past the rivals for the first time in VHT, having lost 4/4 before this, as they stepped into the final with a (///) wicket win.
Here's how the match panned out.
Thakur and Bhute put Karnataka on back-foot
Captain Mayank Agarwal won the toss and decided to bat first on a wicket, which had some assistance for the bowlers early on in the match and the decision soon back-fired, as the pacers started well for Vidarbha — Nachiket Bhute struck in his second over to dismiss the captain with an lbw call, which had to be reviewed and Mayank had to go back, scoring only 9(10).
On the other end, Devdutt Padikkal kept struggling against Yash Thakur and took 18 balls to open his account, before immediately nicking one to the keeper. Thakur only conceded 12 off his first five overs, including three maidens, to put his team on the front foot.
Nair and Shrijith score fifties; Nalkande grabs a five-fer
Following the score of 74/3, former Vidarbha player Karun Nair and wicketkeeper KL Shrijith combined for a brisk 113 off 97 stand, where both batters got their fifties to stabilise the innings. Before getting out, Karun got 76(90) with 8 fours and a six, and he was soon followed by Shrijith in the next over after he scored 54(53) with 7 fours.
Started by Darshan Nalkande and Yash Kadam, Vidarbha bounced back into the context and wrapped up the lower-middle order quickly. Shreyas Gopal (36) and Abhinav Manohar (26) looked good for a short time but could not capitalise on their starts as Nalkande finished with 5/48 (10). Thakur went for runs in the second spell and ended 10 overs with 2/64. Kadam and Bhute picked one each as Karnataka got bowled out for 280.
Mokhade gets his fifth ton; Shorey & Samarth provide crucial support
The in-form Aman Mokhade, who missed out on a big score in the quarter final, got back among the runs in the big match after losing his partner Atharva Taide cheaply for 6(14). Dhruv Shorey, who also headed into the game with runs in the tournament, got alongside the 24-year-old in a 98(118) partnership to set a foundation for an easy chase, before he got out for 47(64) with four fours.
One more player who was facing his old team, Ravikumar Samarth, walked in at 4 and made sure Vidarbha didn't collapse and got a quick fifty as the batter, and Mokhade added 147(112) for the third wicket. On the other end, Mokhade went past the 700 run mark before he was dismissed for 138(122) with 12 fours and two sixes — his fifth century of the season.
Samarth stuck to the end for the finishing touches to the chase, and Vidarbha won the match by 6 wickets. The former Karnataka batsman ended his knock unbeaten at 76 off 69 with 7 fours.
