Ranji Trophy final: What if Vidarbha vs Kerala ends without a winner?

The Ranji Trophy 2024-25 final between Vidarbha and Kerala is underway at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. While Vidarbha is aiming for their third title after finishing as runners-up last season, Kerala has reached the final for the first time and is looking to script history with their maiden championship win.

Both teams are eager to claim the prestigious trophy, but an important question arises: What happens if the match ends in a draw?

Who wins the Ranji Trophy if the final is drawn?

The Ranji Trophy final is a five-day match, and while securing an outright win is the ultimate goal, the tournament rules state that the first-innings lead is enough to determine the winner if the match ends in a draw.

According to the Ranji Trophy knockout regulations, the team with a first-innings lead advances in earlier rounds. The same rule applies to the final—if the match is drawn after five days, the team that was ahead in the first innings will be crowned the champions.

Kerala reached the final after edging Gujarat by just two runs based on a first-innings lead in the semi-final. However, they now find themselves in a tough spot, having conceded a 37-run lead to Vidarbha at the end of their first innings.

Vidarbha had set a solid total of 379 in their first innings, powered by Danish Malewar’s 153. In response, Kerala’s batters got off to good starts but struggled to convert them into big scores. Captain Sachin Baby came close to a century but fell short by just two runs.

Vidarbha in control, Kerala needs a fightback

With a first-innings lead already secured, Vidarbha can win the trophy even if the match ends in a draw. However, given their strong performances throughout the tournament, they would likely aim for a convincing outright victory, especially in front of their home crowd.

For Kerala, their only chance of winning the title lies in a strong second-innings bowling effort. They must dismiss Vidarbha quickly and chase down the target to turn the game in their favor. Otherwise, Vidarbha will secure their third Ranji Trophy title by their first-innings advantage.

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