Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Yash Rathod’s century helps Vidarbha claw back against Andhra on opening day

Almost as if the hangover of white-ball cricket hadn’t worn off, Vidarbha lost its top order inside the first hour before Yash Rathod (104 not out) made his side recall a key skillset in the longer format: patience.

Rathod’s unbeaten 170-ball century combined strong defence and authoritative shots that brought his side back into the game after pacer K.S. Raju helped Andhra control proceedings on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy Group ‘A’ fixture in Anantapur on Thursday.

In moist and windy conditions, Vidarbha captain Harsh Dubey’s decision to bat first was a gamble. Being reduced to 45 for four only underlined the danger. But as the day progressed, Rathod ushered in a change in momentum as the pitch eased out.

Opener Aman Mokhade, fresh off a terrific 50-over campaign, began with a punch off the backfoot before the sound of his pull shot echoed across the Anantapur Cricket Ground. Backing his attacking instincts, Mokhade even had India regular Nitish Kumar Reddy second-guessing his lengths, resulting in the bowler spraying the ball around only for the right-hander to dispatch another pull to the midwicket fence.

However, at first change, Raju showed discipline and was rewarded as Mokhade opened up again for the drive, only for the ball to nip back in and crash into the stumps. In Raju’s next over, Danish Malewar went for a push on the off-side, found the edge, and saw a diving Nitish at slips complete a fine one-handed catch.

Meanwhile, the other opener, Atharva Taide, wasn’t allowed to free his arms by the three pacers—Nitish, K.V. Sasikanth, and Raju. When Taide finally went for an expansive drive, Raju had him caught behind. A crisp push towards the cover boundary marked R. Samarth’s arrival, but the same shot also proved his undoing as he was caught by wicketkeeper K.S. Bharat off Raju’s bowling.

Batting at number five, Rathod guided debutant Rohit Binkar through the process of steadying a sinking ship. The duo did not go searching for runs; instead, they let the bad balls come to them. To Andhra’s credit, there were not many on offer, making patience the key.

Post lunch, that approach paid off as Rathod and Binkar began to find the fence more often as they put on a 93-run stand. Binkar grew in confidence with each delivery, but his first outing in whites was cut short by K. Saiteja, as the batter was caught behind down the leg side. Nitish was brought back soon after, and a skidding delivery trapped skipper Dubey in front.

Yet, Rathod found himself an able ally in Darshan Nalkande, who wasn’t shy to loft anything straight in his arc.

The duo stitched a 76-run stand for the seventh-wicket, with Nalkande contributing 36 off them. But Saurabh Kumar got a crucial breakthrough as Nalkande chipped the ball straight back to the left-arm spinner.

Rathod flicked Saurabh for a single to complete a gratifying century and end the day on a high after Vidarbha started on the wrong note.

Published on Jan 22, 2026