Daijiworld  Media Network - Nagpur

Nagpur, Mar 1: Vidarbha’s star batter Karun Nair showcased his brilliant form once again in the Ranji Trophy final against Kerala, smashing a crucial century in the second innings to place his team in a commanding position at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha on Saturday.

Walking in at No. 4 on day four, with Vidarbha struggling at 7/2 after Kerala’s early strikes, Nair steadied the innings with a masterful knock. Adding to his team’s overnight 37-run first-innings lead, he once again partnered with Danish Malewar—the duo that had stitched a match-defining 215-run stand earlier. Nair’s fluent hundred off 184 balls helped Vidarbha extend their lead beyond 200 by the final session, crushing Kerala’s hopes of a comeback.

This was Nair’s second century in a Ranji Trophy final, marking a stellar milestone in his domestic career. Earlier in the first innings, he surpassed 8,000 first-class runs in his 152nd match and, for the first time, crossed 800 runs in a single Ranji season. His ninth century of the season was met with an emotional celebration, reflecting the magnitude of his achievement.

The 33-year-old has been in red-hot form, carrying over his momentum from a remarkable Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, where he amassed 752 runs, including five centuries in seven innings. His consistency continued in the Ranji Trophy knockout stages, with a century in Vidarbha’s final league game against Hyderabad and another ton in the quarterfinal against Tamil Nadu.

Nair has a history of delivering in Ranji Trophy finals. In his debut first-class season in 2013-14, he was part of Karnataka’s title-winning squad against Maharashtra. A year later, he made history with a record-breaking 328—still the highest individual score in a Ranji final—against Tamil Nadu, earning him the Player of the Match award as Karnataka defended their crown.

With Nair leading the charge, Vidarbha now stands on the verge of clinching another Ranji Trophy title.