Karnataka Wins Vijay Hazare Trophy; Karun Nair Falls Short in the Final

Karnataka clinched the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Saturday in Vadodara, defeating Vidarbha by 36 runs to secure their fifth title in the tournament's history. Karnataka set a formidable target of 349 runs, scoring 348/6 in their 50 overs. Vidarbha's chase ended at 312 all out, despite a valiant century by opener Dhruv Shorey, who scored 110 runs. This was Shorey’s third consecutive century in the tournament, a remarkable feat.

Vidarbha captain Karun Nair, however, could not replicate his consistent form in the final, managing only 27 runs before being dismissed. All-rounder Harsh Dubey kept Vidarbha's hopes alive with an explosive 63 off 30 balls, including five sixes and five fours, but his efforts fell short. Karnataka bowlers Vasuki Kaushik (3/47), Prasidh Krishna (3/84), and Abhilash Shetty (3/58) delivered disciplined performances to restrict Vidarbha’s batting lineup.

For Karnataka, Smaran Ravi Chandran emerged as the key player in the final. The left-handed batsman scored a quickfire 101 off 92 balls, supported by Krishnan Srijith (78 off 74 balls) and Abhinav Manohar (79 off 42 balls), helping the team achieve an imposing total. Karnataka maintained their unbeaten record in finals, having won all five times they reached this stage.

Despite Vidarbha's loss, Karun Nair was named the "Player of the Tournament" for his consistent performances throughout the competition.