Twitter reactions: Mayank Agarwal’s Karnataka defeats Karun Nair’s Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 final

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Karnataka claimed the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024/25 title with a convincing 36-run victory over Vidarbha in a high-scoring final at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara. Batting first, Karnataka posted a mammoth 348/6, thanks to Ravichandran Smaran‘s commanding 101 off 92 balls and quick-fire contributions from Abhinav Manohar (79 off 42) and Krishnan Shrijith (78 off 74).

Despite a valiant 110 off 111 balls by Vidarbha opener Dhruv Shorey and Harsh Dubey‘s explosive 63 off 30 balls in the latter stages, Vidarbha fell short, getting bowled out for 312 in 48.2 overs. Karnataka’s Vasuki Koushik, Prasidh Krishna and Abhilash Shetty shared three wickets each, ensuring their team secured the silverware. Smaran was awarded Player of the Match for his decisive century, while Vidarbha skipper Karun Nair, with a tournament-topping 779 runs, was named Player of the Series.

Karnataka’s stellar batting in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 final

Karnataka’s innings was a masterclass in constructing a high total under pressure in a final. After a shaky start where they lost Devdutt Padikkal and KV Aneesh cheaply, Smaran anchored the innings with a magnificent 101 off 92 balls, blending aggression and control. His partnerships with Shrijith (160-run stand) and later with Manohar were pivotal. Shrijith’s steady 78 off 74 balls set a solid base, but it was Manohar’s breathtaking 79 off 42 balls, laced with 10 fours and 4 sixes, that propelled Karnataka past 340. Their innings saw multiple milestones, with Smaran and Shrijith reaching fifties in quick succession before Smaran completed a century. Vidarbha’s bowlers, despite taking six wickets, struggled with consistency as Nachiket Bhute and Darshan Nalkande were expensive, conceding 67 and 68 runs respectively.

Vidarbha’s fightback led by Dhruv Shorey and Harsh Dubey

Vidarbha’s chase began with promise, thanks to an elegant knock by Shorey. Opening the innings, Shorey showcased his class with a fluent 110 off 111 balls, combining textbook strokes with intelligent strike rotation. However, he lacked substantial support from the middle order. Captain Nair and Yash Rathod made brief contributions, but regular wickets derailed the chase. The late surge came from Dubey, who smashed 63 off just 30 balls, keeping Vidarbha’s hopes alive with powerful sixes and boundaries. Despite their valiant efforts, Vidarbha’s innings collapsed under pressure, with three wickets falling in the space of 10 runs towards the end. Karnataka’s bowlers, especially Koushik and Shetty, ensured there was no miracle by maintaining tight lines in the death overs.

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Karnataka’s bowling brilliance under pressure

Defending 349, Karnataka’s bowlers showed resilience and tactical awareness on a batting-friendly pitch. Koushik led the attack with figures of 3/47 in his 10 overs, using variations effectively to trouble the batters. Krishna, though expensive with 84 runs in his quota, provided crucial breakthroughs, including the dismissal of Vidarbha’s captain Nair. Shetty was instrumental with three wickets, including the prized scalps of Shorey and Dubey at critical junctures. Shreyas Gopal offered control in the middle overs, conceding just 55 runs in his 10 overs despite going wicketless. Karnataka’s fielding was sharp, with key catches and a run-out ensuring Vidarbha never gained complete momentum. Their ability to maintain composure in the death overs sealed a memorable title victory.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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