Indian Cricket Team Vidarbha Wins on Belief and Teamwork

The reigning champions of India's Ranji Trophy just added another trophy to their collection, and their secret weapon wasn't talent alone.

Vidarbha defeated Saurashtra by 38 runs in Bengaluru on Sunday to capture the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India's premier domestic one-day cricket championship. Head coach Usman Ghani says the win came down to one simple principle: believing in each other, even when games went wrong.

"We believe in each other," Ghani told PTI after the victory. "This year we were confident and backed each other to bring a white ball trophy home."

The win was especially sweet after a disappointing performance in the previous tournament. Vidarbha lost several close matches and failed to even reach the playoffs. But instead of dwelling on those losses, the team doubled down on their culture of support.

"If one game goes wrong for us, we are always confident of coming back," Ghani explained. "That has become a mindset of the team now."

That positive mindset paid off when it mattered most. In both the semifinal and final matches, Vidarbha stayed calm under pressure, never letting doubt creep in.

Why This Inspires

What makes Vidarbha's story special is how they've turned support into a superpower. While many teams focus solely on individual talent, Ghani's squad proves that backing each other creates something stronger.

The team's depth helped them overcome injuries and setbacks throughout the tournament. When star player Danish Malewar went down with an injury, others stepped up without hesitation. Even talented players like Dhruv Shorey didn't make the final lineup, a testament to the fierce but healthy competition for spots.

Twenty-five-year-old Aman Mokhade earned player of the series honors with a tournament-best 814 runs. Earlier in the season, he struggled through several bad matches. The coaching staff kept faith in him anyway, and he rewarded that trust with over 500 runs in the Ranji Trophy and 800 more in the Hazare.

"He repaid our faith," Ghani said proudly. "These young players are very confident and that's what we need as a team."

Lead pacer Yash Thakur topped the bowling charts with 19 wickets, while 23-year-old captain Harsh Dubey led with patience and maturity beyond his years. Ghani praised Dubey for building strong relationships with senior players and encouraging constant communication.

Now Vidarbha faces a new challenge: switching back to multi-day cricket for their upcoming Ranji Trophy match on January 22. They're currently leading their group with 25 points from five matches.

Ghani isn't worried about the quick format change. "It's a challenge but we know we can adapt to it," he said. When you've built a team on belief and mutual support, anything feels possible.