Ranji Trophy: Wadkar and Bhute drive Vidarbha to first-innings lead over Madhya Pradesh in Nagpur

On Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, at the VCA Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur, Akshay Wadkar and Nachiket Bhute propelled Vidarbha to a first-innings lead against Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match. Wadkar finished with 100 (212b, 9x4) and Bhute made 97 (111, 6x4, 5x6).

Vidarbha resumed the second day on 56 for four and lost Dhruv Shorey and Harsh Dubey early in the first session, which gave Madhya Pradesh an opening to press. Bhute assumed the earlier attacking role, repeatedly finding the fence off Saransh Jain and Kumar Kartikeya Singh, while Wadkar rotated the strike and picked gaps; together they reduced the deficit to below 100. Nachiket brought up his fifty in 56 balls with a straight six off Saransh in the final over before lunch.

After lunch the pair maintained a brisk tempo against seamers Avesh and Ravi Kiran and profited from wayward deliveries, although Bhute was fortunate to survive two missed chances. Wadkar reached his fifty from 122 balls before Bhute drove Kiran through the covers to confirm the hosts' first-innings lead.

A six off Saransh took him to his highest First-Class score but with three figures agonisingly close MP brought Arshad Khan back and the 26-year-old fiddled behind. Wadkar reached his century from 212 balls with a quick single but injured himself diving to complete it and had to be stretchered off the field immediately afterwards.

Darshan Nalkande and Parth Rekhade extended Vidarbha's advantage beyond 100 before both holing out off Saransh Jain, and Madhya Pradesh were left with six overs to bat. Vidarbha then struck early in the reply when Rekhade had Yash Dubey caught by Harsh two balls into the session.

The scores: Madhya Pradesh — 1st innings: 209. Vidarbha — 1st innings: Satyam Bhoyar c Patidar b Kartikeya 8, Aman Mokhade c Chanchal b Kartikeya 0, R. Samarth c Yash b Avesh 17, Dhruv Shorey b Avesh 32, Danish Malewar lbw b Kartikeya 0, Akshay Wadkar retired hurt 100, Harsh Dubey c Kartikeya b Saransh 12, Nachiket Bhute c Purohit b Arshad 97, Darshan Nalkande c & b Saransh 30, Parth Rekhade c sub b Saransh 14, Rajneesh Gurbani (not out) 12; Extras (b-1, lb-9, w-2): 12; Total (for nine wickets in 103.3 overs): 334. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-8, 3-34, 4-35, 5-70, 6-87, 7-262, 8-305, 9-334. Madhya Pradesh bowling: Kartikeya 36-6-106-3, Avesh 18-2-51-2, Saransh 21.3-3-77-3, Ravi 16-3-47-0, Arshad 10-1-33-1, Shubham 2-0-10-0. Madhya Pradesh — 2nd innings: Yash Dubey c Harsh b Rekhade 4, Saksham Purohit (batting) 14, Atharva Mahajan (batting) 1; Total (for one wkt. in six overs): 19. Vidarbha bowling: Rekhade 2-0-6-1, Harsh 3-1-5-0, Gurbani 1-0-8-0.

Madhya Pradesh were 19 for 1 in six overs at the close of play, leaving it facing a tall task again on Wednesday.