Wanted to help the team get the first innings lead, says Vidarbha spinner Dubey

Harsh Dubey shines with record-breaking wickets in Ranji Trophy, putting Vidarbha in position to win third title.

Harsh Dubey was going to be the biggest threat for Kerala. The third day would be crucial, and the wicket was getting increasingly spinner-friendly.

Not that Dubey needs much assistance. He came into this match with 66 wickets, 22 more than anybody else in the Ranji Trophy this season.

Three more wickets would make him break the record for the highest number of wickets in a season. He did that, but more importantly, he put Vidarbha in an excellent position to win a third Ranji Trophy.

Dubey provided the breakthrough by sending back Aditya Sarwate, who had looked at ease on the second day after being promoted to No. 3, for the first time in his career.

After beating Sarwate with his sharp turn earlier on, he ended the veteran all-rounder’s resistance, having him caught close in. He also removed Kerala’s leading batter of the season, Salman Nizar, trapping him lbw with another ball that spun menacingly.

He thus equalled the record of Ashutosh Aman. Then he went past that mark by getting M.D. Nidheesh with another lbw verdict.

“I wasn’t actually thinking of the record, I just wanted to help my team get the first-innings lead,” the 22-year-old said. “Obviously the record is an achievement for me. And I met my parents after the day’s play and everyone is happy.”