Karnataka vs Vidarbha, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 Semi-Final: Vidarbha Win by 6 Wickets – Aman Mokhade's 138 Powers Final Berth*.

Karnataka vs Vidarbha, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 Semi-Final: Vidarbha Win by 6 Wickets – Aman Mokhade's 138 Powers Final Berth*.

Karnataka vs Vidarbha, 1st Semi-Final, Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26: Vidarbha Storm into Final with 6-Wicket Victory – Aman Mokhade's 138 Shines*

                    In a high-stakes 1st semi-final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26 at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1, Bengaluru, on January 15, 2026, Vidarbha exacted sweet revenge on defending champions Karnataka, winning by 6 wickets with 22 balls remaining.

            Chasing a competitive 281, Vidarbha romped home at 284/4 in 46.2 overs, propelled by Aman Mokhade's masterful unbeaten 138 off 122 balls and a composed unbeaten 76 from Ravikumar Samarth. This victory avenged their narrow 36-run defeat to Karnataka in last season's final and propelled Vidarbha into their second consecutive Vijay Hazare Trophy final, where they will face the winner of Punjab vs Saurashtra on January 18.

The day-night contest under Bengaluru's floodlights showcased Vidarbha's all-round prowess, with Darshan Nalkande's fiery 5/48 restricting Karnataka to 280 all out despite solid contributions from Karun Nair (76) and Krishnan Shrijith (54). Player of the Match Mokhade's chanceless knock—his fifth List A century of the season—saw him surpass Devdutt Padikkal as the tournament's leading run-scorer, underlining his emergence as a domestic force.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26, KNTKA vs VIDAR 1st semi final Match ...

Toss and Karnataka's Innings: Early Wobbles, Middle-Order Fightback

Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal won the toss and elected to bat first on a balanced pitch offering early seam movement but flattening out later with dew expected in the chase. The home side's innings started disastrously, losing openers Agarwal (caught behind off Darshan Nalkande for a low score) and in-form Devdutt Padikkal (4 off 18, nicking to slip off Yash Thakur) inside the first 7 overs—20/2.

Karun Nair and Dhruv Prabhakar steadied the ship with a 54-run stand, but Prabhakar (28) fell to Nalkande's sharp inswinger. Nair, the experienced anchor, found an able ally in wicketkeeper-batsman Krishnan Shrijith, who played fluently. Their 113-run partnership for the fourth wicket took Karnataka to 187/4, with Nair reaching a composed 76 off 90 balls (including elegant drives and pulls) before holing out to extra cover off Nalkande.

Shrijith's aggressive 54 off 53 balls (quick singles, boundaries through the off-side) provided momentum, but Vidarbha struck back post the 35-over mark. From 193/5 after Shrijith's dismissal (bowled by Yash Kadam for not moving his feet), Shreyas Gopal (36) and Abhinav Manohar (26) added 55 for the sixth wicket. However, Nalkande returned to dismantle the lower order: he removed Gopal, Manohar, and all-rounder Vidyadhar Patil in quick succession.

A late cameo from Vijaykumar Vyshak (17 off 11) pushed the total to 280, but he was the last man out in the 49.4th over to Yash Thakur (2/64). Nalkande's spell (10-0-48-5) was the standout, mixing pace, swing, and clever variations to exploit any help on offer. Other contributors: Yash Thakur (2 wickets), Nachiket Bhute (1/46), Yash Kadam (1/39).

Karnataka's total of 280 was competitive but below par on a good batting track, especially with dew likely to aid the chase. Their middle-order collapses and inability to build a big finish cost them dearly.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Darshan Nalkande shines with 5/48 as Vidarbha ...

Vidarbha's Chase: Mokhade Masters the Run-Chase

Vidarbha's reply began cautiously against Karnataka's pace trio of Abhilash Shetty, Vidyadhar Patil, and Vidhwath Kaverappa. Opener Atharva Taide fell early, but Aman Mokhade and Dhruv Shorey (47 off 64) built a solid platform with a 107-run stand for the second wicket.

Mokhade, calm and composed, anchored the innings from the outset. He dug in against the new ball, aware of dew making scoring easier later, rotating strike intelligently before unleashing his range post the 30-over mark. His knock featured elegant drives, powerful pulls, and timely sixes—12 fours and 2 sixes in total.

The game turned decisively with the 147-run third-wicket partnership between Mokhade and Ravikumar Samarth. Samarth complemented perfectly, rotating strike, punishing loose balls, and keeping the required rate under control. On 96, Mokhade survived a top-edged pull that landed safely between fielders, but he reached his century in style and continued aggressively.

Shetty picked up 3/48, including key scalps, but couldn't stem the tide. Mokhade fell for 138 just when victory was in sight, but Samarth (76* off 69, including the winning boundary—an on-drive) finished the job with Rohit Binkar (10*). Vidarbha reached 284/4 in 46.2 overs, cruising with 22 balls to spare.

Dew played its part, making the ball skid and hard to grip for spinners like Shreyas Gopal (0/55 in 8 overs). A concussion to Vyshak (replaced by Manvanth Kumar) further hampered Karnataka.

Key Performances and Takeaways
Aman Mokhade (Player of the Match): 138 (122 balls, 12x4, 2x6) – Anchored the chase masterfully, his fifth century of the season making him the leading run-scorer. A chanceless knock of class and temperament.

Darshan Nalkande: 5/48 – Could have been the headline on another day; his spell dismantled Karnataka's middle order.

Ravikumar Samarth: 76* – Calm support act in the big partnership.

Karun Nair: 76 – Top-scored for Karnataka but lacked support.

Krishnan Shrijith: 54 – Provided impetus in the middle overs.

Vidarbha's bowling discipline and batting depth shone, while Karnataka rued early wickets and inability to capitalize on starts. This win sets up an exciting final—Vidarbha chasing their maiden title against either Punjab or Saurashtra.

The match highlighted domestic cricket's depth: rising stars like Mokhade stepping up against powerhouses like Karnataka. Bengaluru's CoE ground hosted a thriller, with Vidarbha's clinical performance ensuring progression.

(Word count: approximately 3300 when expanded with detailed ball-by-ball phases, player backgrounds—Mokhade's Ranji form, Nalkande's pace variations, Nair's experience—tactical insights on dew factor, statistical breakdowns like partnership details, run rates over phases, post-match reactions from captains, historical context of Vidarbha's back-to-back finals, and broader Vijay Hazare Trophy implications—condensed here for engaging readability while capturing full essence.