The curtain fell on the Irani Cup 2025 at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur with a thrilling victory for Vidarbha, but the final day was marred by a heated, unforgettable on-field confrontation. In scenes that shocked and captivated the cricketing world, Rest of India’s batsman Yash Dhull and Vidarbha pacer Yash Thakur nearly came to blows, injecting a fiery, controversial edge into the prestigious domestic fixture. While Akshay Wadkar’s men etched their name into the history books with a 93-run win, the unforgettable Dhull vs. Thakur incident quickly became the defining moment, dominating headlines and social media discussion across the nation.
— Nihari Korma (@NihariVsKorma) October 5, 2025
Flashpoint: The Dhull vs. Thakur Confrontation
The atmosphere was already electric on the final day, with the Irani Cup balance hanging precariously. The Rest of India, chasing a daunting total, were kept in the contest largely by a brilliant partnership between the young guns: Yash Dhull and Manav Suthar. Dhull, specifically, was playing a magnificent, aggressive knock, driving fear into the Vidarbha camp.
The highly volatile moment occurred on the first ball of the 63rd over. Yash Thakur, the right-arm speedster, delivered a short ball that Dhull attempted to upper cut. The shot, however, lacked control, and Atharva Taide claimed a simple catch, ending Dhull’s superb innings at 92 off 117 balls.
Thakur’s reaction was intense and celebratory—understandable given the magnitude of the wicket that swung the momentum firmly back to Vidarbha. But Dhull, who had fought so hard, did not take the aggressive send-off kindly. Charging back toward the celebrating bowler, Dhull initiated a confrontation. Thakur stood his ground, and the two players found themselves chest-to-chest in an ugly, tense standoff. Swift and timely intervention by the on-field umpires and Thakur’s teammates prevented the skirmish from escalating into a full-blown physical altercation, saving the match from a severe stain.
Expert Take: ‘Know Their Limits’
The incident immediately drew sharp criticism from the commentators. Veteran Vivek Razdan articulated the general sentiment, stating, “There was a bit of a tussle in the middle, as such was the atmosphere. But one should remember to know their limits. It is of utmost importance.”
While the tension was palpable and the stakes were high—it was the Irani Cup final, after all—the outburst crossed a line. Such fiery encounters often highlight the competitive intensity of the BCCI domestic cricket circuit, but they also bring focus to the standards of player conduct. For both Yash Dhull and Yash Thakur, this intense moment will serve as a crucial learning experience about channeling aggression appropriately on the field.
Vidarbha Clinch Their Third Title
The controversy, unfortunately, overshadowed a tremendous team effort by the Akshay Wadkar-led Vidarbha squad. Dhull’s dismissal proved to be the turning point that Yash Thakur was celebrating. His wicket-taking burst was instrumental, as he followed up the Dhull dismissal by removing Anshul Kamboj on the very next delivery, effectively opening the floodgates. The Rest of India collapsed, losing their final three wickets for just 30 runs, handing Vidarbha a comfortable 93-run victory.
This win marks a significant milestone: it is the third time Vidarbha has won the Irani Cup, adding the 2025 title to their previous triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. While the dramatic confrontation provides the shareable clip and the headline-grabbing drama, the true story is Vidarbha’s consistent dominance in this challenging multi-day format. Atharva Taide, whose excellent century was key, was rightly named the Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.