Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Rathod ton, Bhute half-century help Vidarbha cross 500-run mark on Day 3
Yash Rathod has been the backbone of Vidarbha’s batting unit since last year, and the vice-captain burnished his credentials with a sparkling century on day three of the Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground in Coimbatore on Monday.
Rathod’s serene 133 (189b, 15×4) ensured the defending champion made 501 in its first innings and secured a massive 210-run lead.
Resuming the day on 211 for two, TN’s chance to stay alive in the game depended on taking early wickets. Skipper R. Sai Kishore did just that when he had the well-set Dhruv Shorey stumped.
Just when the host sniffed an opening, Rathod firmly shut the door by aggressively going after the spinners and raced into his 40s at more than a run-a-ball.
The most impressive part of his batting was that he did so without taking any risks. The left-hander smashed off-spinner Mohamed Ali for three boundaries in an over, which included a cut, a flick through midwicket, and a crisp on-drive using his feet.
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Rathod found good support from overnight batter R. Samarth, who scored a grinding half-century and was happy to play second fiddle to the former.
Once TN took the second new ball, Rathod held himself back and built his innings gradually, piling on the agony for the home team. Alongside his skipper, Akshay Wadkar, he added 130 for the fifth wicket.
Later, Nachiket Bhute, who scalped a five-for in the first innings, rubbed salt into the wound by smashing an unbeaten half-century to push Vidarbha’s total past 500.
Yet again, TN’s bowling attack appeared hapless and was a one-man show with Sai Kishore shouldering the burden as he scalped his 14th five-wicket haul. Heading into the final day, the TN batters need to bat out of their skin to avoid a second straight defeat at home and at least salvage a point.
Scoreboard
Tamil Nadu-1st innings: 291
Vidarbha-1st innings: Aman Mokhade c Vimal b Sai Kishore 80, Satyam Bhoyar c Andre Siddarth b Sai Kishore 11, Dhruv Shorey st Athish b Sai Kishore 82, R. Samarth c Mohamed Ali b Trilok 56, Yash Rathod c Athish b Sai Kishore 133, Akshay Wadkar c Pradosh b Trilok 43, Akshay Karnewar c Athish b Trilok 4, Nachiket Bhute (not out) 51, Parth Rekhade c Chandrasekar b Sai Kishore 21, Lalit Yadav b Chandrasekar 0, Praful Hinge st Athish b Chandrasekar 0, Extras (b-6, lb-10, w-2, nb-2): 20; Total (in 148.4 overs): 501
Fall of wickets: 1-37, 2-160, 3-223, 4-293, 5-423, 6-425, 7-438, 8-500, 9-501
Tamil Nadu bowling: Warrier 25-2-75-0, Sai Kishore 52-11-150-5, Chandrasekar 30.4-0-100-2, Trilok 25-2-98-3, Mohamed Ali 14-0-56-0, Vimal Khumar 1-0-4-0, Shahrukh Khan 1-0-2-0.
Tamil Nadu – 2nd innings: S.R. Athish (batting) 2, R. Vimal Khumar (batting) 4; Total (for no loss in five overs): 6
Vidarbha bowling: Bhute 3-1-3-0, Rekhade 2-0-3-0.
Published on Nov 03, 2025
