Irani Cup win proves we are in the reckoning for next season: Vidarbha coach Usman Ghani
Rajat Patidar had the chance of completing a rare triple – being the winning captain in the Indian Premier League, Duleep Trophy, and the Irani Cup in succession. However, that was derailed when Vidarbha beat the Rest of India in the final.
Usman Ghani, however, has achieved successive titles as a coach, being in charge of squads that have won the Ranji Trophy, the Duleep Trophy, and the Irani Cup, all in a calendar year.
“Duleep Trophy consists of central zone players. It’s good for me as a coach, but this trophy (Irani Cup) was very important for me. We badly wanted to win it and we have done it,” Ghani told Sportstar.
Ghani is confident that the last five days, with Vidarbha outclassing a formidable Rest of India outfit by 93 runs, have set the tone for Vidarbha’s quest to defend the Ranji title.
“It shows that when one wins the Ranji Trophy, it is not a fluke. It shows that our team is a good side and for the coming season, we are going to be a good challenge to all our opponents. So, [this] Irani [win] proves a lot that we are still there in the reckoning for the next season.”
Ghani was not at all surprised by Atharva Taide notching up a first-innings century that resulted in the left-handed opener being the Player of the Match.
“Unfortunately, we had to drop him (for last season’s final) because he was not scoring runs and he was not fulfilling his role. The moment the season ended, we started working on him. He is a very competitive guy. He gave his 100 per cent, and we worked on his technique and areas to improve. I am very happy for him.”
Published on Oct 05, 2025
