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Vidarbha and Kerala have developed an intriguing domestic cricket rivalry, particularly in the Ranji Trophy, where their meetings have included knockout matches, dominant victories and high-scoring draws. The most recent major encounter came in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final, when Vidarbha and Kerala played out a draw at Nagpur.
The rivalry has also produced one-sided knockout matches. Vidarbha defeated Kerala by an innings and 11 runs in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy semifinal, while the 2024-25 final went the distance without a winner.
This article covers the key Vidarbha Cricket Team Vs Kerala Cricket Team Stats, including head-to-head results, Ranji Trophy records, major team totals, leading individual performances and the latest final.
Vidarbha vs Kerala Head-to-Head Stats
Vidarbha have generally had the better results in their recent meetings, particularly in first-class cricket.
The two sides met in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy semifinal, where Vidarbha produced a commanding innings victory. They then faced each other in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final, which ended in a draw.
The available recent head-to-head record also includes a Kerala victory over Vidarbha in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
| Match | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Ranji Trophy quarter-final | Vidarbha won by 412 runs |
| 2019 | Ranji Trophy semifinal | Vidarbha won by an innings and 11 runs |
| 2019 | Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | Kerala won by 26 runs |
| 2020 | Ranji Trophy | Match drawn |
| 2025 | Ranji Trophy final | Match drawn |
The 2017 Ranji Trophy quarter-final remains one of the most emphatic results in the fixture, with Vidarbha winning by 412 runs.
Latest Vidarbha vs Kerala Match
The latest major meeting was the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.
Kerala won the toss and chose to field.
Vidarbha scored 379 in their first innings, Kerala replied with 342, and Vidarbha then reached 375/9 declared in their second innings.
The match ended in a draw.
| Team | Innings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Vidarbha | 1st | 379 |
| Kerala | 1st | 342 |
| Vidarbha | 2nd | 375/9d |
| Result | Draw |
The final was therefore decided by the championship rules rather than a conventional match victory.
Danish Malewar’s 153
Danish Malewar produced the standout batting performance for Vidarbha in the final.
He scored 153 from 285 deliveries in Vidarbha’s first innings.
| Batter | Team | Runs | Balls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danish Malewar | Vidarbha | 153 | 285 |
| Karun Nair | Vidarbha | 86 | 188 |
| Nachiket Bhute | Vidarbha | 32 | 38 |
| Yash Thakur | Vidarbha | 25 | 60 |
Malewar’s 153 was the highest individual score of the match and helped Vidarbha establish a competitive first-innings total of 379.
He combined patience with enough boundary scoring to control the innings for a long period.
Vidarbha’s 379 in the 2025 Final
Vidarbha made 379 all out from 123.1 overs.
The innings was built around Malewar’s century and Karun Nair’s 86.
| Vidarbha batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Danish Malewar | 153 |
| Karun Nair | 86 |
| Nachiket Bhute | 32 |
| Yash Thakur | 25 |
| Akshay Wadkar | 23 |
| Harsh Dubey | 12 |
Vidarbha’s total gave Kerala a substantial target to chase for a first-innings lead, but Kerala responded strongly enough to remain in contention for the title.
Kerala’s 342 in the Final
Kerala replied with 342.
That left Vidarbha with a first-innings lead of 37 runs.
The difference was relatively small considering the length of the match.
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Vidarbha 1st innings | 379 |
| Kerala 1st innings | 342 |
| Vidarbha lead | 37 |
| Vidarbha 2nd innings | 375/9d |
| Result | Draw |
The 37-run lead became important because it gave Vidarbha a narrow advantage when the match ultimately ran out of time.
Vidarbha’s Second Innings
Vidarbha scored 375/9 declared in their second innings.
The declaration allowed Kerala a theoretical opportunity to chase a substantial target, but there was not enough time left for the match to produce a decisive result.
The final therefore ended with Vidarbha’s second innings unfinished from a batting perspective and Kerala not required to complete a full chase.
2018-19 Ranji Trophy Semifinal
The 2018-19 Ranji Trophy semifinal is one of the most important matches in the rivalry.
Vidarbha won by an innings and 11 runs.
Kerala were dismissed for just 106 in their first innings. Vidarbha then produced a huge total before Kerala were bowled out for 91 in their second innings.
| Team | 1st innings | 2nd innings |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 106 | 91 |
| Vidarbha | 208 | — |
| Result | Vidarbha won by an innings and 11 runs |
Vidarbha’s bowlers dominated the contest, with Umesh Yadav playing a major role in Kerala’s first-innings collapse.
Rajneesh Gurbani also contributed heavily to the victory.
The result sent Vidarbha through to the next stage of the Ranji Trophy knockout campaign.
2017 Ranji Trophy Quarter-Final
Another major result came in the 2017 Ranji Trophy quarter-final.
Vidarbha defeated Kerala by 412 runs.
| Team | 1st innings | 2nd innings |
|---|---|---|
| Vidarbha | 246 | 507/9d |
| Kerala | 176 | 165 |
| Result | Vidarbha won by 412 runs |
Vidarbha’s second innings was the key to the huge victory.
They declared at 507/9 after building an enormous lead, leaving Kerala with an extremely difficult fourth-innings challenge.
Kerala were subsequently dismissed for 165.
The 412-run margin remains one of the biggest victories in the history of this matchup.
Kerala’s 2019 T20 Victory
The teams also met in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in November 2019.
Kerala won by 26 runs.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Kerala | 162/7 |
| Vidarbha | 136/7 |
| Result | Kerala won by 26 runs |
Kerala’s 162 proved sufficient despite Vidarbha reaching 136/7.
The result is important because it shows that the rivalry has not been limited to Vidarbha’s success in first-class cricket.
2020 Ranji Trophy Draw
Vidarbha and Kerala met again in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy.
The match at Nagpur ended in a draw.
Vidarbha made 326 in their first innings, while Kerala reached 191/3 before the game ended without a result.
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| Vidarbha | 326 |
| Kerala | 191/3 |
| Result | Draw |
The match demonstrated a recurring feature of the rivalry: long first-class games in which one side can establish an advantage without having enough time to force victory.
Biggest Vidarbha Win Over Kerala
Vidarbha’s largest recent victory over Kerala came in the 2017 Ranji Trophy quarter-final.
The final margin was 412 runs.
Vidarbha scored 246 and 507/9 declared, while Kerala made 176 and 165.
The combined Vidarbha totals were therefore 753 runs, compared with Kerala’s 341.
| Statistic | Vidarbha | Kerala |
|---|---|---|
| 1st innings | 246 | 176 |
| 2nd innings | 507/9d | 165 |
| Match aggregate | 753 | 341 |
| Result | colspan | Vidarbha won by 412 runs |
This remains one of the most striking statistical results between the teams.
Biggest Kerala Win Over Vidarbha
Kerala’s most notable recent victory came in the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Kerala scored 162/7 and restricted Vidarbha to 136/7.
The 26-run victory was achieved in a completely different format from the major Ranji Trophy victories in the rivalry.
The contrast is useful when examining the head-to-head record: a team’s performance in first-class cricket does not automatically translate into the same advantage in T20 cricket.
Highest Individual Score in Recent Meetings
Danish Malewar’s 153 in the 2025 Ranji Trophy final is the highest individual score among the latest documented meetings.
Karun Nair’s 86 was Vidarbha’s second-highest score in that innings.
Earlier matches also produced important individual contributions, but Malewar’s century-plus score was the defining batting effort of the latest final.
| Player | Team | Score | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danish Malewar | Vidarbha | 153 | 2025 |
| Karun Nair | Vidarbha | 86 | 2025 |
| Vishnu Vinod | Kerala | 37 | 2019 semifinal |
| Sachin Baby | Kerala | 22 | 2019 semifinal |
Highest Team Totals
The rivalry has produced several substantial first-class totals.
Vidarbha’s 507/9 declared in the 2017 quarter-final stands out, while their 379 in the 2025 final was another major total.
| Team | Score | Year | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vidarbha | 507/9d | 2017 | Ranji Trophy |
| Vidarbha | 379 | 2025 | Ranji Trophy |
| Vidarbha | 375/9d | 2025 | Ranji Trophy |
| Vidarbha | 326 | 2020 | Ranji Trophy |
| Kerala | 191/3 | 2020 | Ranji Trophy |
| Kerala | 176 | 2017 | Ranji Trophy |
Vidarbha’s 507/9 declaration remains particularly significant because it helped create the 412-run victory.
Lowest Team Totals
Kerala’s 91 in the second innings of the 2018-19 semifinal was one of the lowest totals in the recent head-to-head record.
Kerala’s first innings in that match was only 106.
| Team | Score | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Kerala | 91 | 2019 Ranji Trophy semifinal |
| Kerala | 106 | 2019 Ranji Trophy semifinal |
| Kerala | 136/7 | 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy |
| Vidarbha | 136/7 | 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy |
The two sides have therefore experienced very different extremes: Vidarbha have posted totals above 500, while Kerala have twice been dismissed for little more than 100 in a major knockout encounter.
Vidarbha vs Kerala Stats at a Glance
| Category | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Latest major meeting | 2025 Ranji Trophy final |
| Latest result | Draw |
| Latest Vidarbha score | 379 & 375/9d |
| Latest Kerala score | 342 |
| Highest recent individual score | Danish Malewar – 153 |
| Major Vidarbha win | 412 runs |
| Major innings victory | Vidarbha by an innings and 11 runs |
| Kerala’s notable T20 win | 26 runs, 2019 |
| Highest recent Vidarbha total | 507/9d |
| Latest final venue | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur |
Vidarbha’s Recent Record Against Kerala
The recent head-to-head results show a strong first-class record for Vidarbha.
The key results include:
- 2017: Vidarbha won by 412 runs.
- 2019: Vidarbha won by an innings and 11 runs.
- 2019: Kerala won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match by 26 runs.
- 2020: Ranji Trophy match drawn.
- 2025: Ranji Trophy final drawn.
This sequence illustrates how heavily the result can depend on format.
Vidarbha’s most emphatic victories came in the Ranji Trophy, while Kerala’s recent victory came in the shorter T20 format.
The 2025 Ranji Trophy Final in Numbers
The final provides an excellent statistical snapshot of the rivalry.
Vidarbha’s first innings lasted 123.1 overs and produced 379.
Kerala responded with 342 from 125 overs.
Vidarbha then batted for another 143.5 overs and reached 375/9 declared.
| Statistic | Vidarbha | Kerala |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 379 | 342 |
| First-innings overs | 123.1 | 125 |
| Second innings | 375/9d | — |
| Second-innings overs | 143.5 | — |
| First-innings lead | 37 | — |
| Match result | Draw | Draw |
The enormous number of overs illustrates why the game ended without a conventional result.
Why the 2025 Final Was Significant
The final was important because it brought the two teams together on the biggest domestic stage.
Unlike the 2017 and 2019 knockout meetings, neither side could force a decisive result.
Vidarbha’s 37-run first-innings lead was useful, but Kerala avoided the type of collapse that had defined their earlier semifinal.
Danish Malewar’s 153 was the standout innings, while Vidarbha’s second-innings 375/9 declaration ensured that the match remained competitive until the end.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who won the latest Vidarbha vs Kerala match?
The latest major meeting was the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final, which ended in a draw. Vidarbha scored 379 and 375/9 declared, while Kerala made 342.
2. What was Danish Malewar’s score against Kerala?
Danish Malewar scored 153 for Vidarbha in the 2025 Ranji Trophy final. He faced 285 balls and hit 15 fours and three sixes.
3. What is Vidarbha’s biggest win over Kerala?
Vidarbha’s biggest recent victory came in the 2017 Ranji Trophy quarter-final, when they defeated Kerala by 412 runs. Vidarbha made 246 and 507/9 declared, while Kerala scored 176 and 165.
4. When did Vidarbha beat Kerala by an innings?
Vidarbha defeated Kerala by an innings and 11 runs in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy semifinal. Kerala were dismissed for 106 and 91, while Vidarbha made 208.
5. Have Kerala defeated Vidarbha?
Yes. Kerala defeated Vidarbha by 26 runs in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in November 2019. Kerala scored 162/7, while Vidarbha finished on 136/7.
Conclusion
The Vidarbha-Kerala rivalry has produced some striking contrasts in domestic cricket.
Vidarbha have recorded dominant Ranji Trophy victories, including a 412-run win in 2017 and an innings-and-11-run semifinal victory in 2019. Kerala have also shown their ability to beat Vidarbha, most notably with their 26-run Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory in 2019.
The latest major encounter, the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy final, was far more evenly contested. Vidarbha made 379 and 375/9 declared, Kerala replied with 342, and the match ended in a draw. Danish Malewar’s 153 was the standout individual performance.