AFTER the introduction of professional players in domestic cricket, the developing or weaker teams opted for these skilled players to build and strengthen their sides. Though that meant a couple of local players were denied a chance to play for their regional side, the addition of such players to the team also had by-products ... the youngsters got a lot to learn from the professionals and the wins the team registered instilled confidence in the players. Vidarbha have been using the services of professional players for a long time. After initial dry run with the better-rated players, the side finally gained success. With domestic giant Wasim Jaffer and an equally talented Ganesh Satish in the side, Vidarbha won back to back Ranji Trophy titles in 2017-218 and 2018-19 seasons.

 

 

 

They stamped their authority at national level by bagging the Irani Cup twice getting the better of Rest of India. Not that both these players were the only architects of the team’s success, a few of the local players had also come up with some of their best performances ... inspired and egged on by the duo and other senior players. Jaffer retired post his stint with Vidarbha opting for coaching duty. It is reliably learnt that Ganesh, who had a poor last season with the bat, was asked to play as local player and not a professional, to which he did not agree. It was reported by ‘The Hitavada’ that Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) was on search for top-order batters for their replacements and that Karnataka’s Karun Nair and Delhi’s Dhruv Shorey were on the radar. Finally, it has been confirmed that the duo has signed on the dotted lines. “Karnataka’s Karun Nair and Delhi’s Dhruv Shorey have been signed by Vidarbha for the coming domestic season (2023-24),” VCA CEO Farokh Dastoor, told a news agency.

 

Nair is only the second Indian batter to score a triple century in Test cricket apart from Virender Sehwag. In last domestic season, the solid right-handed opener Shorey scored 859 runs for Delhi while averaging 95.44 in the Ranji Trophy. He was the fourth in the list of the highest run-scorers of the 2022-23 season. It is yet not clear when the duo will be joining the squad. They have not been named in Vidarbha’s 17-member squad that is leaving on Thursday for Pondicherry tour where they will be have a training camp and play an inter-state warm-up Twenty20 tournament. “It would have been a good opportunity for the new professional players to travel with the team and gel with the players. After the team returns, Vidarbha will be hosting its annual Bapuna Cup T20 tournament. Hope both of the them are part of Vidarbha squads then,” said Suhas Phadkar, Chairman, VCA’s Senior Selection Committee, who is accompanying the team to Pondicherry.