Vidarbha Create History with Maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy Triumph

Vidarbha achieved a landmark milestone in Indian domestic cricket by winning their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy. The team defeated Saurashtra in the final at Bengaluru with a confident all-round performance. Strong batting at the top and disciplined bowling later ensured Vidarbha lifted the prestigious List A title for the first time in their cricketing history.

Why in News?

Vidarbha won their first Vijay Hazare Trophy title. They defeated Saurashtra by 38 runs in the final played in Bengaluru.

Historic Final at Bengaluru

• The final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy was played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru.
• Vidarbha entered the match with a consistent run through the tournament and delivered under pressure on the biggest stage.
• Their 38-run victory over Saurashtra, a two-time champion, marked a defining moment for the Vidarbha cricket association.

Atharva Taide’s Match Winning Century

• Opener Atharva Taide played the innings of his life, scoring a fluent 128 runs in the final.
• This was his finest List A knock and came after a long gap since his previous century.
• Taide showed composure early against the new ball and gradually increased the scoring rate. His ability to anchor the innings gave Vidarbha a strong foundation in a high-pressure final.

Saurashtra’s Chase and Resistance

• Chasing 318, Saurashtra showed fight through Prerak Mankad’s 88 and Chirag Jani’s 64.
• Their fifth-wicket partnership briefly revived hopes of a comeback.
• However, once Mankad was dismissed, momentum shifted back to Vidarbha.
• The fall of Jani soon after increased the required run rate, making the chase increasingly difficult.

Bowling Discipline Seals the Title

• Vidarbha’s bowlers ensured there was no late drama.
• Yash Thakur led the attack with four wickets, while Nachiket Bhute and Darshan Nalkande provided crucial support.
• Saurashtra were bowled out for 279 in 48.5 overs, sealing a famous 38 run win and confirming Vidarbha’s maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph.

About Vijay Hazare Trophy

• The Vijay Hazare Trophy is India’s premier domestic one day tournament, played in the 50 over List A format.
• It is named after legendary Indian cricketer Vijay Hazare.
• While Vidarbha have previously won the Ranji Trophy, this was their first victory in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, highlighting their growing strength in limited-overs cricket.

Last 5 Years Champions

Season	Winner	Runner-up	Details
2025/26	Vidarbha	Saurashtra	First title for Vidarbha
2024/25	Karnataka	Vidarbha	5th title for Karnataka (most successful)
2023/24	Haryana	Rajasthan	First title for Haryana
2022/23	Saurashtra	Maharashtra	Second title for Saurashtra
2021/22	Himachal Pradesh	Tamil Nadu	First title for Himachal Pradesh

Most Successful Teams

Team	Titles	Years Won
Karnataka	5	2013/14, 2014/15, 2017/18, 2019/20, 2024/25
Tamil Nadu	5	2002/03, 2004/05, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2016/17
Mumbai	4	2006/07, 2018/19, 2020/21, plus earlier wins
Saurashtra	2	2007/08, 2022/23
Others	1 each	Jharkhand, Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Vidarbha

Key Summary at a Glance

Why in News?	Details
Tournament	Vijay Hazare Trophy
Winner	Vidarbha
Runner-up	Saurashtra
Venue	BCCI Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru
Key Batter	Atharva Taide (128)
Key Bowler	Yash Thakur (4 wickets)

Question

Q. Which team won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 final?

A. Saurashtra
B. Mumbai
C. Vidarbha
D. Karnataka