Vidarbha cricket team has declared its side for the coveted Irani Cup 2025, where wicketkeeper-batsman Akshay Wadkar will be the captain. The winners of the Ranji Trophy will play against the Rest of India (RoI) team at the VCA's Jamtha Stadium, Nagpur, from October 1. Vidarbha will be looking to win their third Irani Cup title following previous successes in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. The team has an excellent mix of veteran and young players, and Yash Rathod, the top run-getter in the just-concluded season of Ranji Trophy, has been appointed vice-captain. Rathod scored 960 runs, highlighting his role in Vidarbha. The head coach of the team, Usman Ghani, who played a crucial role in Vidarbha's success in the Ranji Trophy last season, will be attempting to lead the team to another victory. The Vidarbha team has veteran performers like Atharva Taide, Darshan Nalkande, and Yash Thakur, along with future stars Danish Malewar and Harsh Dubey waiting to make a mark. Wadkar, with 3906 runs from 62 first-class games at an average of 48.82 with 11 centuries, adds leadership and experience to the middle order of the team. Rathod's outstanding batting and consistency will be the source of stability as well as run-scoring power. Also Read | Abhishek Sharma’s Rumoured Girlfriend Laila Faisal: All You Need to Know The team of 16 also includes wicketkeeper Shivam Deshmukh, along with bowlers Aditya Thakare, Akshay Karnewar, and Praful Hinge, making Vidarbha's team balanced. Other former star players have helped Vidarbha surge in domestic cricket, and the team is banking on this combination of experience and young vigor to win back the Irani Cup from the powerful Rest of India team, which has won the title 29 times in the past. The Irani Cup encounter coming up carries high stakes because it usually marks the start of India's domestic season with a match between the then-current Ranji Trophy winners and a Rest of India side with the nation's best. With home support in Nagpur and capable leadership by Wadkar and Rathod, Vidarbha's intention is clear—to win another Irani Cup trophy and continue their recent domestic supremacy. Vidarbha full squad for Irani Cup 2025 Akshay Wadkar (c & wk), Yash Rathod (Vice-Captain), Atharva Taide, Aman Mokhade, Danish Malewar, Harsh Dubey, Parth Rekhade, Yash Thakur, Nachiket Bhute, Darshan Nalkande, Aditya Thakare, Akshay Karnewar, Yash Kadam, Shivam Deshmukh (WK), Praful Hinge, Dhruv Shorey.