Vidarbha will rely on their red-hot form to stake claim for a title that they last won over five years ago, while first-time finalists Kerala will be driven by grit when the two teams clash in the final of the Ranji Trophy, starting here today. It has been nothing short of a stellar run for the Akshay Wadkar-led Vidarbha side this season, winning eight of their nine matches so far and drawing one.

Yash Rathod has been at the forefront of their batting with 933 runs in nine matches at 58.13. Wicketkeeper and captain Akshay Wadkar has led from the front, scoring 674 runs in nine matches at 48.14. In the bowling department, left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey, 22, has set the tournament alight, claiming 66 wickets in nine matches.