For me Ranji triumph as big as representing Team India, says Fazal

Captain Faiz Fazal on Monday termed Vidharbha’s triumphal march to their maiden Ranji Trophy his career’s "biggest achievement", bigger than representing India in a lone ODI against Zimbabwe. Vidharbha on Monday won India’s premier domestic tournament with a convincing nine-wicket victory over Delhi, scripting a new chapter in the region’s cricketing history.

Fazal was a part of the second-string Indian team that toured Zimbabwe in 2016 and opening the innings in his career’s only international game, the 32-year-old lefthanded batsman scored a half-century.

"Winning the Ranji Trophy would be the biggest achievement of my career. I know playing for India was a big high for me because as an individual, you get to achieve that. I have always been a teamman. Winning the trophy for the team has been a big thing.

"I have been leading Vidarbha since my age-group cricket days. And to lead a Ranji team is not an easy thing,” an elated Fazal said.

Vidharbha achieved victory with the full final day to spare, clearly showing the team’s dominance in its biggest game of all time.

"The win is no less than a fairytale. This feeling can’t be described. As a cricketer, we have always dreamed of winning Ranji Trophy. It is the biggest thing in our career. It happened today, and I am happy. For now, we are on seventh heaven. But again, we have to be down to earth and start our work tomorrow."

While individual brilliance from the likes of young pacer Rajneesh Gurbani, Sanjay Ramaswamy, Wasim Jaffer and Akshay Wakhare helped a great deal, the mantra behind Vidarbha’s success lay in collective effort.

"From day one, I thought we can win it. I was in England before the season, and when I came to Nagpur and met Chandu Sir, the first thing I wanted to know was how to win the trophy. Then the process started. The first game against Punjab was the turning point.

"I wanted the whole team to participate in the Irani Cup."

Fazal acknowledged the support he got from coach Chandrakant Pandit and the seasoned Wasim Jaffer. "I let the side be free. This win has not been easy. Behind this, Chandu sir comes in, Jaffer bhai, Karn (Sharma), Ganesh (Satish) played huge role. Otherwise it would have not been possible.” Pandit, who has won multiple Ranji titles, praised hi players and said they listened to instructions and executed them in the field. "We have been following our routine and that’s the best part, we have done. All credit goes to the players as they have put in the hard work. I am very happy with the way they have respected me, and the players have never ignored the system we have followed. That is one of the major things.

"The team is together, they have started enjoying the sessions. We stayed together all the time and there were certain kinds of activities in the team."

A hard task master, the coach will however not impose restrictions on celebrating the victory. Vidharbha’s maiden title came after playing over 250 matches, spanning five decades.

Rajneesh Gurbani, who became only the second bowler to claim a hat-trick in a Ranji Trophy final, was named the Man of the Match. He gave the credit of their win to Chandrakant Pandit and bowling coach Subroto Banerjee