In a stunning display of batting prowess at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, Aman Mokhade engineered a masterful run-chase on Wednesday (January 15, 2026), leading Vidarbha to a comfortable six-wicket victory over defending champions Karnataka. The win propels Vidarbha into their second consecutive Vijay Hazare Trophy final, ending Karnataka’s hopes of retaining their title in their own backyard. While Mokhade was the undisputed star with the bat, pacer Darshan Nalkande laid the foundation with a lethal five-wicket haul.
Aman Mokhade continues his dream run in the tournament
Chasing a challenging target of 281 in a high-pressure semi-final, Vidarbha needed someone to step up, especially after losing opener Atharva Taide early. Enter Mokhade. Continuing his dream run in the 2025-26 season, Mokhade sizzled with a match-winning knock of 138 off just 122 balls. His innings, laced with 12 crisp fours and two towering sixes, was a perfect blend of caution and aggression. He paced his innings beautifully, ensuring the required run rate never spiraled out of control.
This century marked Mokhade’s fifth ton of the tournament, a staggering achievement that vaulted him to the top of the season’s run-scoring charts with 781 runs. His ability to deliver in a knockout game against a potent Karnataka attack highlighted his growing stature in the domestic circuit.
While Mokhade was the cornerstone of the chase, he received vital support from his teammates. After stabilizing the innings with Dhruv Shorey (47), Mokhade found an able ally in Ravikumar Samarth.
The duo frustrated the Karnataka bowlers, putting on a decisive 147-run stand that effectively sealed the match. Samarth played the perfect second fiddle, rotating the strike and finding the boundaries when necessary, eventually finishing unbeaten on a solid 76. Vidarbha crossed the finish line comfortably in 46.2 overs with six wickets in hand.
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Darshan Nalkande’s bowling brilliance derails Karnataka
Earlier in the day, Karnataka, having been put in to bat, seemed poised for a total well in excess of 300. Experienced campaigners Karun Nair (76) and KL Shrijith (54) stitched together a solid partnership, laying a strong platform for the hosts. However, Vidarbha pacer Nalkande had other plans. Bringing his A-game to the semi-final, Nalkande triggered a dramatic collapse in the middle and death overs. His disciplined line and length, combined with clever variations, proved too much for the Karnataka middle order.
Nalkande finished with brilliant figures of 5 for 48, restricting Karnataka from a comfortable position to 280 all out. His spell was crucial in keeping the target within chasable limits for the Vidarbha batters.
This victory is a massive statement from the Vidarbha side. Knocking out the defending champions, Karnataka, on their home turf in Bengaluru proves Vidarbha’s consistency and hunger for silverwear. Having secured their spot in a second successive Vijay Hazare Trophy final, Vidarbha will now await the winner of the second semi-final between Punjab and Saurashtra, eager to go one step further than last year and lift the coveted trophy.
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