Ranji Trophy, 2017-18; Final: Vidarbha vs Delhi – Statistical Highlights

The year 2018 began on a historic note with Vidarbha winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title by thrashing the favourites Delhi by nine wickets. In their first-ever top-four finish in the Ranji Trophy, Vidarbha made into the final with help of an inspiring win over Karnataka in the semis and another big win in final with help of their pacer Rajneesh Gurbani’s bowling efforts handed them the title. Delhi set a 29-run target after conceding a 252-run first innings lead. Wasim Jaffer brought an end to the game by hitting four boundaries in an over.

All the stats and numbers from Vidarbha’s historic win Ranji Trophy victory:

1 – Vidarbha registered their maiden Ranji Trophy title in their first-ever appearance in the Finals. In fact, this was the first time Vidarbha made into the semi-finals as well. They are the 18th team to win the Ranji Trophy title and this is also their maiden Indian domestic tournament title.

2 – Rajneesh Gurbani became the 2nd player to take a hat-trick in the Ranji Trophy final after B Kalyanasundaram (for Tamil Nadu against Bombay) in the 1972/73 season. He took an all-bowled hat-trick in Delhi’s first innings.

3 – Gurbani is only the 3rd Vidarbha player after Pritam Gandhe (1993/94 and 2008/09) and Umesh Yadav (2015/16) to take a hat-trick in the Ranji Trophy.

3 – Rajneesh Gurbani bagged man of the match awards in all the three knockout matches for his bowling performances. He took 7/68 in the Quarters, 12/162 in the Semis and 8/151 in the Finals of this season.

9 – Wasim Jaffer involved in a Ranji Trophy final for the 9th time – 8 times while playing for Mumbai and one for Vidarbha. His team won on all the nine occasions. However, this was the first time Jaffer hit the winning runs in a Ranji final.

20y 86d – At the age of 20 years and 86 days, Rishabh Pant became the youngest player to lead his team in a Ranji Trophy Final. Sachin Tendulkar (21y 337d) was the previous youngest captain in a Ranji final when he led Mumbai in 1994/95 against Punjab.

27 – Gurbani’s 27 wickets in the knockouts this season are the most by a player since 29 wickets by Bharati Vij and 27 by Santosh Jedhe in 1992/93 season.

67.71 – Wasim Jaffer has a batting average of 67.71 in the Ranji Trophy finals. He has scored 948 runs in 15 innings in the Ranji finals with three centuries and seven fifties. He scored 78 in the first innings and unbeaten 17 in the 2nd innings of this final.

138 – Wasim Jaffer went past Amol Muzumdar’s 136 Ranji Trophy appearances by featuring in the knockout round of this season. Only Devendra Bundela (145) featured in more Ranji games than Jaffer.