Vidarbha have won three of the last four verified meetings against Maharashtra and hold a 2–0 record in confirmed knockout contests. The vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team timeline stretches back to 1972-but the most significant chapter has been written entirely in the last eight years. This article covers the complete head-to-head record, every major match, rivalry records, top individual performances, and the five turning points that define where this contest stands today.
At a Glance: What You Need to Know Immediately
The vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team timeline can be split into two clear eras: Maharashtra’s period of dominance (pre-2017) and Vidarbha’s modern run of results (2017 onward). Vidarbha and Maharashtra have met across the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy since 1972. In the five most recent verified meetings, Vidarbha held a 3–1 advantage with one draw. In knockout cricket specifically, Vidarbha have won both confirmed encounters.
| Metric | Detail |
| First recorded meeting | Ranji Trophy 1972-73 |
| Latest confirmed meeting | Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final, Jan 16, 2025 |
| Vidarbha wins (recent verified) | 3 |
| Maharashtra wins (recent verified) | 1 (Oct 2019, VHT group stage) |
| Draws | 1 (Ranji Trophy 2021-22) |
| Highest team score in rivalry | 380/3-Vidarbha (VHT SF, Jan 2025) |
| Biggest List A margin | 69 runs-Vidarbha (Jan 2025) |
| Biggest FC margin | 10 wickets-Vidarbha (Feb 2024) |
| Knockout record | Vidarbha 2-Maharashtra 0 |
Overall Record vs Recent Record
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Understanding the full picture of the vidarbha vs maharashtra cricket rivalry requires separating historical data from modern results. Pre-2010 scorecard archives are not fully digitised, so broad historical claims are not made here. What the verified data shows is significant enough.
Historical Record (Pre-2017)
| Period | Vidarbha Wins | Maharashtra Wins | Draws |
| Historical (pre-2017, FC only) | Not fully archived | At least 1 confirmed (2016-17) | Several |
| Recent verified (2019–2025) | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Knockout stage only | 2 | 0 | — |
Why the Split Matters
Maharashtra held a clear advantage in early Ranji Trophy group-stage encounters. From 2021 onward, Vidarbha have not lost a single confirmed match against Maharashtra. That shift is the central story of this rivalry.
Head-to-Head Record by Format
The vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team head-to-head covers three major domestic formats. Each format tells a slightly different story.
| Format | Vidarbha Wins | Maharashtra Wins | Draws |
| First-Class (Ranji Trophy) | 1 confirmed recent | 1 confirmed (2016-17) | 1 (2021-22) |
| List A (Vijay Hazare Trophy) | 2 | 1 (Oct 2019) | — |
| T20 (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) | 1 (7 wkts, Nov 2021) | 1 (8 wkts) | — |
Key Insight
In the Ranji Trophy-domestic cricket’s most prestigious red-ball competition-Vidarbha have won the only recent knockout-adjacent match (10 wickets, Pune, Feb 2024). In List A cricket, Vidarbha have taken both knockout meetings. The T20 format is the only one where both teams hold a single confirmed win each, making it the most evenly contested format in this rivalry.
Verified Knockout Meetings
This is the most important table in the vidarbha vs maharashtra cricket team timeline-because knockout results define rivalries more than group-stage points.
| Year | Tournament | Stage | Winner | Margin |
| Nov 2021 | Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | Pre-Quarter Final | Vidarbha | 7 wickets |
| Jan 2025 | Vijay Hazare Trophy | Semi-Final | Vidarbha | 69 runs |
Vidarbha hold a 2–0 verified knockout advantage in available records. No FC knockout meeting between the two sides has been confirmed in public domestic cricket archives.
What Knockout Data Reveals
When the season is on the line, Vidarbha have eliminated Maharashtra both times they have met in knockout cricket. In the 2021 SMAT pre-quarter final, Maharashtra posted 157/8 and Vidarbha chased it in 17.5 overs. In the 2025 Vijay Hazare semi-final, Vidarbha posted 380 and left Maharashtra 69 runs short. Two different formats, two different years-the same result.
Full Match Timeline: Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Maharashtra Cricket Team
This section covers every major verified encounter in the vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team timeline, listed chronologically.
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1972-73-First Recorded Meeting (Ranji Trophy, Bombay Zone)
The earliest confirmed encounter in public cricket archives. Vidarbha had entered the Ranji Trophy as a separate entity in the 1957-58 season, having formally affiliated with the BCCI in 1956. Their 1972-73 Ranji fixture against Maharashtra marked the beginning of a rivalry that now spans more than five decades.
2016-17-Maharashtra’s Last Dominant Ranji Win
Maharashtra earned a full 7-point haul, Vidarbha picked up 0. This result is the last confirmed occasion on which Maharashtra clearly dominated a Ranji Trophy fixture between the two sides. At this point, Vidarbha had not yet won their first domestic title. The structural investment Maharashtra made in this era-fielding a competitive side in Pune-would not be enough to hold Vidarbha back for much longer.
October 2019-Maharashtra’s Last Confirmed Win in Any Format (VHT Group Stage)
Result: Maharashtra 4 points, Vidarbha 0.
A Vijay Hazare Trophy group-stage encounter that represents the last time Maharashtra defeated Vidarbha in any verified format. The margin of the result is not available in public archives, but the points outcome confirms a complete Maharashtra victory. Since this match, Maharashtra have not beaten Vidarbha in a single recorded fixture.
November 16, 2021-Vidarbha Win SMAT Knockout (Pre-Quarter Final)
Scores: Maharashtra 157/8 (20 ov) | Vidarbha 160/3 (17.5 ov)
Result: Vidarbha won by 7 wickets, 13 balls to spare.
The first confirmed knockout elimination of Maharashtra by Vidarbha. Maharashtra were held to 157/8, a total that Vidarbha reached comfortably with 7 wickets and more than two overs in hand. This match established the knockout pattern that would be confirmed again in 2025.
February 9-12, 2024-Vidarbha Win by 10 Wickets (Ranji Trophy, Pune)
Scores: Maharashtra 208 all out (56.4 ov, run rate 3.67) | Vidarbha won by 10 wickets.
The largest margin of victory in the FC head-to-head between these two sides in verified records. Maharashtra were dismissed for 208 at their home ground in Pune. Vidarbha chased the target in the second innings without losing a single wicket. This Ranji Trophy 2023-24 group-stage result confirmed a complete power reversal in the first-class format of this rivalry.
January 16, 2025-Vijay Hazare Trophy Semi-Final, Vadodara
Scores: Vidarbha 380/3 (50 ov) | Maharashtra 311/7 (50 ov)
Result: Vidarbha won by 69 runs.
This is the centrepiece of the modern vidarbha vs maharashtra cricket team timeline. Yash Rathod (116 off 101 balls) and Dhruv Shorey (114 off 120 balls) constructed a partnership that forced Maharashtra out of realistic control of the innings by the midpoint of their chase. Karun Nair added 88* off 44 balls and Jitesh Sharma contributed 51 off 33. Maharashtra, chasing 381, reached 311/7. Vidarbha went on to win the final and claim their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title.
Rivalry Records: Verified Stats
These records are drawn directly from confirmed scorecard data. No aggregated career rivalry statistics are publicly available for this fixture, so all figures below relate to specific verified matches.
| Record | Detail | Match |
| Highest team total | 380/3-Vidarbha | VHT SF, Jan 2025 |
| Highest individual score (MAH) | 90-Arshin Kulkarni | VHT SF, Jan 2025 |
| Biggest List A margin | 69 runs-Vidarbha | VHT SF, Jan 2025 |
| Biggest FC margin | 10 wickets-Vidarbha | Ranji 2023-24, Pune |
| Biggest T20 margin (MAH) | 8 wickets, 23 balls rem | SMAT (unspecified season) |
| Biggest T20 margin (VID) | 7 wickets, 13 balls rem | SMAT, Nov 2021 |
| Best FC innings (MAH, recent) | 208 all out (56.4 ov) | Ranji 2023-24, Pune |
| Highest partnership (last 2 yrs) | 94-AA Kulkarni & AR Bawne (4th wkt, MAH) | — |
Top Performances in Recent Meetings
These are individual performances verified directly from head-to-head scorecard data-not season or career aggregates.
Batting Highlights
- Yash Rathod (Vidarbha)-116 off 101 balls, 14 fours, 1 six-VHT SF vs Maharashtra, Jan 2025
- Dhruv Shorey (Vidarbha)-114 off 120 balls, 14 fours, 1 six-VHT SF vs Maharashtra, Jan 2025
- Karun Nair (Vidarbha)-88* off 44 balls, 9 fours, 5 sixes-VHT SF vs Maharashtra, Jan 2025
- Jitesh Sharma (Vidarbha)-51 off 33 balls-VHT SF vs Maharashtra, Jan 2025
- Arshin Kulkarni (Maharashtra)-90 off 101 balls-highest individual knock for MAH in a verified recent encounter
- Ankit Bawne (Maharashtra)-50 off 49 balls-VHT SF chase, Jan 2025
Bowling Highlights
- Darshan Nalkande (Vidarbha)-3/64 in 10 overs, dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad (7) and Ankit Bawne (50)-VHT SF, Jan 2025
- Nachicket Bhute (Vidarbha)-3/68 in 10 overs, three middle-order wickets that ended Maharashtra’s realistic chase-VHT SF, Jan 2025
- Satyajeet Bachhav (Maharashtra)-1/60 in 10 overs, most economical Maharashtra bowler in the VHT SF at an economy of 6.00
- Mukesh Choudhary (Maharashtra)-2/80 in 9 overs, top wicket-taker for Maharashtra in that match
What the Numbers Show
No Maharashtra bowler conceded fewer than 60 runs across 10 overs in the VHT semi-final. Against a Vidarbha batting lineup in this form, Maharashtra’s bowling lacked the variety to create pressure at both ends simultaneously. That structural gap-exposed across a full 50-over innings-is more significant than any individual dismissal.
5 Turning Points in the Vidarbha vs Maharashtra Cricket Timeline
The vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team timeline has been shaped by five specific moments. Each one shifted momentum permanently.
- 1972-73-First Ranji Trophy Meeting: The rivalry begins in the Bombay zone. Vidarbha are the newer entrants, Maharashtra are established. This sets the early dynamic.
- October 2019-Maharashtra’s Last Win: A Vijay Hazare Trophy group-stage win gives Maharashtra 4 points and Vidarbha 0. This is the last time Maharashtra have beaten Vidarbha in any verified fixture.
- November 2021-First Knockout Win for Vidarbha (SMAT, 7 wkts): Vidarbha eliminate Maharashtra from a T20 knockout for the first time in confirmed records. The knockout trend begins here.
- February 2024-10-Wicket Win on Maharashtra’s Home Ground: Vidarbha dismiss Maharashtra for 208 in Pune and chase it without losing a wicket. A first-class win by 10 wickets, at Pune, confirms the power shift in red-ball cricket.
- January 2025-380/3 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Semi-Final: Rathod (116) and Shorey (114) post Vidarbha’s highest team total against Maharashtra. Nalkande (3/64) and Bhute (3/68) restrict Maharashtra to 311. Vidarbha advanced to the final, won the title, and recorded their biggest List A margin over Maharashtra.
Recent Form: Rivalry Context
From 2019 to 2025, the vidarbha vs maharashtra head-to-head stands at Vidarbha 3 wins, Maharashtra 1 win, 1 draw. Maharashtra’s last win in any format against Vidarbha was in October 2019. In knockout stages, Vidarbha held a verified 2–0 advantage. Vidarbha have also won the Ranji Trophy three times (2017-18, 2018-19, 2024-25) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2025, while Maharashtra have not won either competition.
Why This Rivalry Matters in Indian Domestic Cricket
The vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team timeline is one of the clearest examples of a sustained domestic power shift in Indian cricket. Both teams come from the same state. They share zones, zonal selectors, and occasionally face each other in the same Ranji Trophy group. Vidarbha have won three Ranji Trophy titles since 2017 and the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2025. In the January 2025 semi-final, Maharashtra fielded Ruturaj Gaikwad-one of India’s most consistent white-ball batsmen-and he was dismissed for 7 by Darshan Nalkande. The 2–0 knockout record, the 10-wicket FC win on Maharashtra’s home ground, and a 380-run innings in a semi-final collectively confirm a rivalry where one team has significantly outperformed the other when the season is at stake.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q1: What is the head-to-head record between Vidarbha and Maharashtra in cricket?
A1: In verified recent meetings from 2019 to 2025, Vidarbha have won 3, Maharashtra 1, with 1 draw. In knockout stages, Vidarbha hold a 2–0 record. Historical records pre-2010 are not fully digitised.
Q2: When did the Vidarbha vs Maharashtra cricket rivalry begin?
A2: The first recorded Ranji Trophy meeting between the vidarbha cricket team vs maharashtra cricket team was in the 1972-73 season, played in the Bombay zone.
Q3: Who won the most recent match between Vidarbha and Maharashtra?
A3: Vidarbha won the most recent confirmed meeting-the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 semi-final on January 16, 2025, by 69 runs in Vadodara.
Q4: What is the highest team score in the Vidarbha vs Maharashtra rivalry?
A4: Vidarbha posted 380/3 in 50 overs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 semi-final. It is the highest verified total between the two sides.
Q5: When was Maharashtra’s last win against Vidarbha?
A5: Maharashtra’s last confirmed win against Vidarbha was in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2019 group stage, where Maharashtra took full points (4–0).
Q6: Who are the top scorers in Vidarbha vs Maharashtra matches?
A6: In confirmed head-to-head scorecard data: Yash Rathod (116), Dhruv Shorey (114), and Karun Nair (88*) for Vidarbha, Arshin Kulkarni (90) and Ankit Bawne (50) for Maharashtra-all from the VHT 2025 semi-final.
Q7: What is Vidarbha’s knockout record against Maharashtra?
A7: Vidarbha hold a 2–0 verified knockout record against Maharashtra-SMAT pre-quarter final (Nov 2021, won by 7 wkts) and Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final (Jan 2025, won by 69 runs).
Q8: Has Maharashtra ever beaten Vidarbha in a knockout match?
A8: Based on available public records, Maharashtra have not won a knockout stage match against Vidarbha. Both confirmed knockout encounters have been won by Vidarbha.
Q9: How many Ranji Trophy titles has Vidarbha won?
A9: Vidarbha have won three Ranji Trophy titles-in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2024-25. Maharashtra have not won the Ranji Trophy.
Q10: What is the biggest margin of victory in the Vidarbha vs Maharashtra cricket timeline?
A10: In List A cricket, the biggest margin is 69 runs-Vidarbha over Maharashtra in the VHT 2025 semi-final. In first-class cricket, the biggest margin is 10 wickets-Vidarbha over Maharashtra in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy at Pune.