Danish Malewar, Karun Nair script turnaround on opening day

Danish Malewar and Karun Nair Guide Vidarbha to Recovery on Day 1 of Ranji Trophy Final

A resilient double-century partnership between Danish Malewar and Karun Nair helped Vidarbha recover from a challenging start on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy 2025 final against Kerala in Nagpur. After a dramatic early collapse, the two batters forged a 215-run stand, guiding the hosts to a strong position at 254/4 by the end of the day’s play.

Key Highlights:

• Vidarbha’s early collapse:
  Vidarbha was in deep trouble early in their innings, losing four wickets for just 24 runs. MD Nidheesh made an early breakthrough, dismissing Parth Rekhade for duck with a successful leg-before-wicket review. After three maidens, Dhruv Shorey opened Vidarbha’s account with a boundary, but Darshan Nalkande and Shorey fell quickly, leaving the hosts in a dire situation.
• Malewar and Nair Revive the Innings:
  With the score at 24/4, Danish Malewar and Karun Nair came together to turn the tide. Initially cautious, the duo soon found their rhythm and began collecting boundaries regularly. Nair also dispatched Aditya Sarwate over cover for a six, showcasing his attacking intent.
• Malewar Brings Up His Century:
  After lunch, Malewar continued to dominate, bringing up his half-century with a six off Sarwate. He reached his century just before the tea break with a boundary, marking a brilliant individual performance under pressure.
• Kerala’s Frustration with the Batting Resistance:
  Despite consistent efforts from Jalaj Saxena, who bowled more frequently in the second session, Kerala’s bowlers were unable to break the partnership. Malewar reached 99 and secured his century just before the break.
• Kerala Strikes with the New Ball:
  After the second new ball was taken, Kerala found success when Karun Nair was run out just 14 runs short of a well-deserved century. Despite the setback, Yash Thakur came in as the nightwatchman and survived until the close of play, leaving Malewar unbeaten at 138*.

Brief Scores:

Vidarbha: 254/4 (Danish Malewar 138*, Karun Nair 86; MD Nidheesh 2/33) vs. Kerala.

Conclusion:

Vidarbha ended the day on a high note, thanks to the partnership between Malewar and Nair, which turned around their fortunes after an early collapse. With Malewar still at the crease and Kerala unable to break the resistance, Vidarbha will look to build on their strong position in the upcoming sessions.