Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Final, Day 3 Review: Kerala hand Vidarbha 37-run lead

The Day 3 of the Ranji Trophy 2025 final between Kerala and Vidarbha at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Kerala stably moved ahead in their first innings, aiming to bridge the shortfall after Vidarbha's hefty total of 379.

Resuming the action from 131/3, Kerala's overnight batsmen, Aditya Sarvate and Sachin Baby, faced a disciplined Vidarbha bowling attack. Sarwate, who had been promoted to No. 3, showcased resilience and technique, building upon his previous day's score. His partnership with Baby was crucial in stabilizing Kerala's innings.

Akshay Wadkar-led side's bowling unit, with the likes of Harsh Dubey and Darshan Nalkande, assisted tight lines, making run-scoring demanding. Nalkande, who had dismissed both the openers earlier in the game, continued to keep threats with his pace and action. Dubey's spin attack added a change to the approach, testing the batter's composure and approach.

With his three wickets in the day, Dubey entered his name in history books, becoming the bowler with most wickets in a single edition of Ranji Trophy. He has currently completed 69 wickets, going past Bihar's Ashutosh Aman who took 68 wickets back in 2018-19 season.

Also Read: Harsh Dubey breaks record for most wickets in single Ranji Trophy edition

For Kerala, captain Sachin Baby was well set to his century, before Dubey trapped him in front of the stumps, just a couple of runs short of the milestone. After Baby's departure for 98, Kerala could only add 18 runs for the last three wickets, as Parth Rekhade drew curtains on the innings with Eden Apple Tom's wicket. This also called for 'Stumps' signal from the umpires.

At the end of Day 3, the side stood at 342 all-out, with Sarvate and Baby being the only key players contributing to Kerala's cause. For now, the match remains finely balanced, with Vidarbha leading by a small 37-run margin, however, a key one in terms of a scenario where the match ends in draw. The upcoming sessions promise intense cricket as the final clash for the prestigious Ranji Trophy continues.