Ranji Trophy 2018-19: Twitter Reacts As Vidarbha Clinches The Title Second Time in a Row

Vidarbha created history as they retained the Ranji Trophy title beating heavyweight Saurashtra by 78 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. As a result, Vidarbha became the sixth team to win back to back Ranji Trophy titles.

Meanwhile, Saurashtra had a mountain to climb entering the fifth day. All hopes were pinned on Vishvaraj Jadeja and he played brilliantly. Along with Kamlesh Makvana, the duo defied Vidarbha’s bowlers for the first 30 minutes, but an error in judgement opened the floodgates and the challengers could not arrest the slide.

Sarwate bagged an 11-wicket haul

Jadeja got to his fifty but departed soon after and unlike in the first innings where the last two wickets battled it out for Saurashtra, they didn’t want to hang around. Jaydev Unadkat and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja departed playing the sweep shot. Saurashtra have lost their third Ranji final and they will ponder will it goes wrong for them. Star batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara, who led Saurashtra to final to two match-winning knocks in the quarter-final and the semifinal, had an awful time in the finals. He managed to score only one run across the innings – both times dismissed by Aditya Sarwate, which hurt his side badly.

Previously, Vidarbha bowled out Saurashtra for 307 to take an important five-run lead after posting 312 runs in the first innings. Sarwate starred with the ball picking five wickets while Akshay Wakhare chipped in with four. Aditya Sarwate then chipped in with the bat with a crucial 49-run knock to help Vidarbha set a target of 205 runs before bowling them out for 127 runs to lift the title.

Congratulations Vidarbha on being deserving winners and for retaining the Ranji Trophy. May you keep on going from strength to strength and cherish this special moment.

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 7, 2019

Well done Vidarbha! What a success story this has been…Vidarbha cricket. ??????#RanjiTrophy

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 7, 2019

Importance of #RanjiTrophy in @BCCI national team selection is 0! Vidarbha back to back Domestic champions but not even a single player is even close to being part of the national team! While anyone who shines in @IPL gets an automatic place in the national team!

— Ayan Chakraborty (@ayanc_99) February 7, 2019

Hmm! The Nagpur team starts off the election year with a win.
Congratulations Vidarbha, on winning the Ranji Trophy.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) February 7, 2019

Vidarbha are the sixth team to win back-to-back #RanjiTrophy titles after Maharashtra, Bombay/ Mumbai, Karnataka, Delhi and Rajasthan!!!

— Amol Karhadkar (@karhacter) February 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/ishratjamaal/status/1093387042208178177

One more continues
Continues in a row
Ranji 2018-2019
Champion #Vidarbh
Second trophy
Congratulate #VidarbhaCricketTeam#VCA@faizfazal well done captaincy@y_umesh#RanjiTrophyFinal#RanjiTrophy 2018-2019 pic.twitter.com/kZMijZw1hP

— Ananta Raut ?? (@RautAnanta) February 7, 2019

https://twitter.com/jimitdds/status/1093387358647533568

https://twitter.com/Iam07ravi/status/1093386936234868736

Congratulations Vidarbha for winning Ranji trophy… Two in a row… Well done??? #RanjiTrophy

— Sri Mareeswaran ?? (@sri_mareeswaran) February 7, 2019

Vidharbha retains the title against a formidable Saurashtra team. Well done to the whole group. Another feather in the cap for Chandrakant pandit sir. One of the best Indian coach. #RanjiTrophyFinal #RanjiTrophy #Cricbuzz

— Shankspeare™ (@Goofyshanks) February 7, 2019

"Didn't think I'd play another #RanjiTrophy final when I left Mumbai. Two in two is unbelievable," says Wasim Jaffer. "When I came back from injury, Chandrakant Pandit became coach and brought me in. I don't want to let it go. Playing in a winning team motivates you."

— Shashank Kishore (@captainshanky) February 7, 2019

So it wasn't a fluke last year! Vidarbha are champions again! Well done @faizfazal. If anyone deserves twin titles for Vidarbha as a captain, it was you. #RanjiTrophy

— Ruchhir Mishrra (@ruchirmishraTOI) February 7, 2019

It's been that kind of season for #Vidarbha not losing a single match in group, stepped into finals Nd got glory in some fashion. Sarwate's 6-59 swifted the game their way. As for SAU, 3rd finals without anything remember.
Vidarbha lift their 2nd #RanjiTrophy #RanjiTrophyFinal

— Wide_yorker (@wideyorker) February 7, 2019