Ranji Trophy final | We shouldn’t allow the Kerala attack to dominate us: Vidarbha captain Wadkar

Excitement builds in Kerala camp ahead of Ranji Trophy final against experienced Vidarbha team at VCA Stadium.

The excitement is palpable in the Kerala camp at the VCA Stadium on this humid afternoon. The team manager, Nazir Machan, is in great demand with the multiple television crews that have come from Kerala.

He tells one channel after another how thrilled every player is about Kerala’s first Ranji Trophy final. The team’s captain Sachin Baby also has multiple interviews lined up.

There isn’t such a hullabaloo about the Vidarbha team. That isn’t surprising, either. The Vidarbha cricketers know a thing or two about playing the final, and actually winning it. They lifted the Ranji Trophy back to back in 2017-18 and 2018-19. And last year, they played in the final.

But, they are not taking Kerala lightly.

“Kerala has an excellent attack and we should not allow them to dominate us,” Vidarbha’s captain Akshay Wadkar said. “Their pacers and spinners are good and we have to play the new ball well.”

He thinks much could depend on the toss on what he believes is a sporting wicket.

“In a five-day match, the first-innings lead may not be that important,” he said.