Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Maharashtra Cricket Team Timeline stretches back to 1972-73, with at least nine documented Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy meetings since 2010-11. Maharashtra dominated early encounters through the mid-2010s, but Vidarbha have won three straight meetings since 2023, including a decisive 10-wicket Ranji Trophy win in February 2024 that flipped the balance of this Central India domestic rivalry.
This isn’t the flashiest fixture on India’s domestic cricket calendar, but for anyone tracking Ranji Trophy history, regional cricket power shifts, or Maharashtra-zone team records, the Vidarbha cricket team vs Maharashtra cricket Team Timeline offers one of the more instructive case studies in how a domestic side can flip decades of underdog status into sustained dominance. Two neighboring associations – Nagpur-based Vidarbha and Pune-anchored Maharashtra – have spent five decades trading blows in first-class and List A cricket, and the shape of that rivalry has changed dramatically in the last ten years.
Overall Head-to-Head Summary
Vidarbha have won four of the last eight documented meetings against Maharashtra, with Maharashtra winning three and one match ending in a draw, reflecting a rivalry that has swung decisively in Vidarbha’s favor since 2023.
| Record | Vidarbha | Maharashtra |
| Documented Ranji Trophy meetings (2010-11 to 2024) | 4 wins | 3 wins, 1 draw |
| Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A) meeting, 2024-25 | Won by 69 runs | – |
| First recorded meeting | 1972-73, Ranji Trophy Central Zone | Same |
| Most recent Ranji result | Won by 10 wickets, February 2024, Pune | – |
Why the Numbers Matter
The shift from Maharashtra’s early dominance to Vidarbha’s recent surge isn’t just a statistical curiosity – it mirrors a broader transformation in Vidarbha’s domestic cricket infrastructure. Their rise from a mid-table Ranji side to a three-time champion (2017-18, 2018-19, 2024-25) reshaped how they approach fixtures against traditionally stronger opponents like Maharashtra.
Last Five Documented Meetings Between These Teams
Vidarbha have won three of their last four documented meetings against Maharashtra across formats, a sharp reversal from the pattern that favored Maharashtra through the mid-2010s.
- October 2024, Nagpur: Vidarbha won by 74 runs, Ranji Trophy 2024-25
- February 2024, Pune: Vidarbha won by 10 wickets, Elite Group A fixture
- January 2025, Vadodara: Vidarbha won by 69 runs, Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinal
- February 2022: Match drawn, Elite Group G
- November 2016, Eden Gardens: Maharashtra won by an innings and 3 runs, bowling Vidarbha out for just 59
The Turning Point Fixture
The February 2024 meeting at Pune deserves special attention within this timeline. Vidarbha’s 10-wicket victory wasn’t a narrow escape – it was a comprehensive statement that their batting depth and bowling discipline had caught up with, and arguably surpassed, Maharashtra’s traditional strengths. This result, paired with their October 2024 win by 74 runs, effectively bookended a calendar year where Vidarbha didn’t lose a single fixture against their western Maharashtra rivals.
Venue-Wise Record in This Rivalry
Eden Gardens in Kolkata produced the most lopsided result in this rivalry, while home venues in Nagpur and Pune have hosted split results depending on the era.
| Venue | Result |
| Eden Gardens, Kolkata (2016-17) | Maharashtra won by innings & 3 runs |
| Pune (2014-15, 2023-24) | Maharashtra won by 6 wickets (2015); Vidarbha won by 10 wickets (2024) |
| Nagpur (2010-11, 2024-25) | Maharashtra won by 10 wickets (2010); Vidarbha won by 74 runs (2024) |
| Vadodara, List A venue (2024-25) | Vidarbha won by 69 runs |
Home Advantage Patterns
Neither team has shown a decisive home-ground advantage across this rivalry’s documented history. What stands out instead is a generational shift – venues that once favored Maharashtra’s seam attack in the 2010s (Nagpur, Pune) now produce Vidarbha wins, largely because their bowling unit has diversified beyond pure pace into disciplined left-arm spin options that trouble batting lineups regardless of surface conditions.
Standout Individual Performances
Anupam Sanklecha’s career-best 7/25 and Naushad Shaikh’s unbeaten 111, both recorded for Maharashtra during their 2016-17 innings win, remain the most statistically significant individual performances in this head-to-head record.
- Best bowling figures: Anupam Sanklecha, 7 wickets for 25 runs, Maharashtra vs Vidarbha, 2016-17 season, Eden Gardens
- Best batting performance: Naushad Shaikh, unbeaten 111, same fixture, supported by Ankit Bawne’s unbeaten 75
- Lowest recorded total: Vidarbha’s all-time low of 59 all out came in that same 2016-17 match; their previous low against Maharashtra was 61, recorded at Nashik in 2010-11
Why These Numbers Still Matter Today
Sanklecha’s 7/25 remains the benchmark bowling performance in this fixture nearly a decade later, largely because no bowler on either side has since produced a comparable single-innings collapse. It’s a reminder that even as Vidarbha’s fortunes have improved dramatically, that 2016-17 Eden Gardens performance stands as a statistical outlier that current squads on both sides still measure themselves against.
Read more: Vidarbha Cricket Team vs Maharashtra Cricket Team Timeline
Rivalry Timeline: Year by Year
The Vidarbha cricket team vs Maharashtra Cricket Team Timeline shows a clear pivot point around 2017, after which Vidarbha’s broader domestic rise began overlapping with improved results specifically against Maharashtra.
| Year | Result |
| 1972-73 | First recorded meeting, Ranji Trophy Central Zone |
| 2010-11 | Maharashtra won by 10 wickets |
| 2014-15 | Maharashtra won by 6 wickets |
| 2016-17 | Maharashtra won by innings & 3 runs |
| 2021-22 | Match drawn |
| February 2024 | Vidarbha won by 10 wickets |
| October 2024 | Vidarbha won by 74 runs |
| January 2025 | Vidarbha won Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinal by 69 runs |
Reading the Timeline Correctly
Notice the seven-year gap between Maharashtra’s last recorded win (2016-17) and Vidarbha’s current three-match winning streak. That gap isn’t a coincidence – it maps almost exactly onto Vidarbha’s ascension to Ranji Trophy champions, winning titles in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2024-25. The team that struggled to survive against Maharashtra’s seam attack in 2016 became India’s most feared domestic side within two years.
Era-by-Era Analysis of the Rivalry
This rivalry divides cleanly into three distinct eras – Maharashtra’s dominance (2010-2016), a transitional phase (2017-2022), and Vidarbha’s current ascendancy (2023-present).
Maharashtra Era (2010-2016)
Maharashtra won all three documented meetings in this window, built on disciplined, seam-friendly bowling that repeatedly exposed Vidarbha’s fragile middle order. Their bowlers exploited home and neutral conditions alike, culminating in that emphatic innings win at Eden Gardens.
Transition Era (2017-2022)
Vidarbha’s broader domestic transformation – three Ranji Trophy titles secured largely through spin-bowling excellence – coincided with just one recorded meeting against Maharashtra in this specific fixture, which ended in a draw. This period represents the quiet foundation-building phase before Vidarbha’s results against Maharashtra specifically began to shift.
Vidarbha Era (2023-Present)
Vidarbha have won three consecutive documented meetings across formats since 2023, reflecting a squad with genuine batting depth and a bowling attack that no longer relies solely on spin-friendly conditions to succeed. This era represents the most complete reversal of fortune in the entire rivalry’s recorded history.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many documented matches have Vidarbha and Maharashtra played?
At least nine verifiable meetings across Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy formats since 2010-11, alongside a first recorded first-class meeting in 1972-73.
Who currently leads the head-to-head record?
Maharashtra won three of the first four documented Ranji meetings between 2010 and 2016, but Vidarbha have won three straight matches since 2023 across formats.
What is the lowest team total recorded in this rivalry?
Vidarbha’s all-time low is 59 all out, recorded during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
What are the best bowling figures recorded between these two teams?
Anupam Sanklecha’s 7 wickets for 25 runs, bowling for Maharashtra in the 2016-17 fixture, remains the standout performance.
What was the result of the most recent Ranji Trophy meeting?
Vidarbha won by 74 runs in October 2024 at Nagpur, extending their current unbeaten run against Maharashtra.
What is Maharashtra’s biggest win over Vidarbha in this rivalry?
An innings and 3 runs, recorded during the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season at Eden Gardens.
Have Vidarbha and Maharashtra played each other in limited-overs cricket recently?
Yes – Vidarbha defeated Maharashtra by 69 runs in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy semifinal played at Vadodara.
When did this rivalry begin?
The first documented first-class meeting between these two teams took place in the 1972-73 Ranji Trophy Central Zone season.
Did the 2021-22 meeting between these sides produce a winner?
No, that Elite Group G fixture ended in a draw, making it one of the few non-decisive results in the recorded rivalry.
