By Admin 
Akshay Wadkar and five of his Vidarbha teammates were part of the Central Zone squad, led by Rajat Patidar, that lifted the Duleep Trophy two weeks ago. Since Monday, Wadkar and Patidar have been preparing at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha on the outskirts of Nagpur to lead rival sides in the Irani Cup.
The clash between Vidarbha — reigning Ranji Trophy champion — and the Rest of India, captained by Patidar, is shaping up as a contest between familiar opponents. With the increasing overlap of players across domestic, India-A, and IPL squads, the lines between teammates and opponents have blurred in recent years.
This time, however, the familiarity is deeper, adding intrigue to the battle. Starting Wednesday, weather permitting, Wadkar and Patidar will look to outwit each other with both tactics and skill.
For the Rest of India, several players will view this game as an audition in front of the national selectors. Fast bowler Akash Deep is set for his first competitive outing since breaking down during the demanding England tour. Abhimanyu Easwaran, having warmed the bench in the same series, will be eager to convert this opportunity into runs. Ruturaj Gaikwad, recovering from a mild fever that kept him away from Tuesday’s training, will hope for a statement knock, while Ishan Kishan will be keen to reassert his presence.
Vidarbha, meanwhile, will rely on its younger brigade to shine. Yash Rathod, who carried his Ranji form into the Duleep Trophy with ease, and left-arm all-rounder Harsh Dubey will both aim to impress the India-A selectors. Danish Malewar, one of last season’s brightest finds, will look to continue his smooth rise on a bigger stage.
The absence of Karun Nair, who has returned to Karnataka after three strong seasons, leaves Vidarbha with a selection puzzle. Whether they opt for Aman Mokhade as a specialist batter or turn to the versatility of Akshay Karnewar could prove crucial in balancing the side.
The stage is set for a hard-fought contest, where reputations will be tested and future opportunities could be shaped.
The teams (from): Vidarbha: Akshay Wadkar (Capt. & wk), Atharva Taide, Danish Malewar, Shivam Deshmukh, Yash Kadam, Yash Rathod (vice-capt.), Harsh Dubey, Aman Mokhade, Akshay Karnewar, Darshan Nalkande, Aditya Thakare, Dhruv Shorey, Nachiket Bhute, Parth Rekhade, Yash Thakur, Praful Hinge.
Coach: Usman Ghani.
Rest of India: Rajat Patidar (Capt.), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Aryan Juyal (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vice-capt.), Yash Dhull, Shaik Rasheed, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Khaleel Ahmed, Akash Deep, Anshul Kamboj, Saransh Jain.
Coach: Amay Khurasiya.