Yash Rathod Joins Vidarbha as Team Prepares for Kolkata T20 Action

The Vidarbha Cricket Association released its Saeed Mushtaq Ali Trophy squad on Monday, confirming left‑handed batsman Atharv Tayde as captain and adding left‑handed hitter Yash Rathod to the lineup. Rathod, who is currently part of India A’s red‑ball series against New Zealand A, brings additional firepower to the top order.

The tournament will be held in Kolkata from November 14 to 26, with Vidarbha placed in Elite Group D. The group also includes Mumbai, Gujarat, Hyderabad, Odisha, Goa, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, making it one of the most challenging draws.

Head coach Usman Gani will continue to steer the side, while former international Sebastian Anthony takes charge of fielding as an assistant coach. Their combined experience is expected to enhance the team’s overall discipline and agility.

Vidarbha’s schedule begins with a November 14 match against Goa, followed by a clash with Odisha on November 16. The team will then move to Eden Gardens for two high‑profile games: November 18 versus Hyderabad and November 20 against a strong Mumbai squad.

The remaining fixtures are set for November 22 (Gujarat), November 24 (Uttarakhand) and November 26 (Chhattisgarh), completing the group stage. Vidarbha will need to navigate this gauntlet to keep title hopes alive.

Spin all‑rounder Harsh Dubey will sit out the tournament, having been selected for India A’s participation in the ACC Rising Stars Men’s Asia Cup in Doha from November 19‑29. His withdrawal leaves a vacancy in the spin department that the coaching staff hopes to fill with existing resources.

The 17‑player roster also features Aman Mokhade, Danish Malevar, Shubham Dubey, Nachiket Bhute, Prfulll Hinge, Darshan Nalekande, Saurabh Dubey, Varun Bisht, Yash Kadam, R. Samarth, Adhyayan Daga, Vedant Jaju, Parth Rekhade, Mandar Ghodamare and Abhishek Aggarwal, under the leadership of Captain Atharv Tayde.

With a mix of experienced hands and promising youngsters, Vidarbha aims to overcome its historic title drought and make a deep run in this edition of the Saeed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.