![Yash Rathod scored 40* and 91 vs Baroda to rescue Vidarbha [Source- ABsay_ek/X.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1763554150123_Yash_Rathod.jpg?type=hq)
Yash Rathod scored 40* and 91 vs Baroda to rescue Vidarbha [Source- ABsay_ek/X.com]
"He has one of the best techniques to play spin bowling", is what Rajat Patidar said about Yash Rathod when he led Central Zone to the Duleep Trophy 2025 win.
Rathod was a key figure in their triumph, scoring 374 runs in 5 innings of the competition, including a marathon 194(286) in the final against South Zone.
Not only the Duleep Trophy, but the Vidarbha vice-captain has got a habit of scoring big runs, especially when it is a big game or his team is in a precarious situation.
Knack of scoring crucial runs
After missing out on the U19 World Cup dream, the middle order batter broke into the senior team with a reputation for scoring big runs. He had led Vidarbha to the Cooch Behar Trophy 2017-18 title with 945 runs in 13 innings, with 5 hundreds and two fifties.
In the subsequent season, he scored another 1089 runs in 19 innings, with the help of 4 hundreds and 5 fifties in their run to the final.
Since becoming a regular on the senior side, he has never looked back. He scored 490 runs in the 10 innings of 2023/24, including 93 vs Karnataka in the quater-final and 141 vs MP in the semi-final.
In his breakout season of Vidarbha's 2024/25 triumph, he finished with a total of 960 runs in the campaign, scoring 5 centuries and three fifties — most of them coming from tough situations.
Notable performances in 2024/25:
- 118 vs Pondicherry from 4/3;
- 135 vs Uttarakhand from 64/3; 56 in the second innings
- 98 vs Rajasthan from 45/3;
- 112 vs Tamil Nadu from 61/3 (QF)
- 54 & 151 vs Mumbai (SF)
- 116 vs Maharashtra (Vijay Hazare Trophy SF)
Exemplifying consistency
After openly stating his goal of breaching the 1000-run barrier, he has once again started the new season with added motivation in pursuit of the Indian baggy blue.
Following the Duleep Trophy win, he helped Vidarbha secure the Irani Cup by scoring 91(153) in the first innings to combine with the centurion Atharva Taide from 80/3 to 342.
In their 5th round win over Baroda, he once again stood tall for his team amid a middle order collapse and added a crucial 40* in the first innings — helping his team to 169 runs and the first innings lead. With his 91 in the second innings, they defeated Baroda by 84 runs.
As things stand, after scoring 71, 101*, 133, 38, 40* and 91 in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, he averages 118.50, as his team sits top of the table after 5 rounds.
Yash Rathod's FC record
| Criterion | Stats |
| Matches | 27 |
| Innings | 44 |
| Runs | 2449 |
| Average | 61.22 |
| Highest | 194 |
| 50/100 | 11/9 |
(Yash Rathod's First-Class record)
Inference
Playing his third full season of red-ball cricket, Rathod has shown incredible consistency at every given opportunity and has scored runs from tough situations to bail his team out.
His 11 fifties and 9 centuries in 44 innings, i.e. 45.45% fifty plus scores, show his willingness and ability to stay long at the crease, holding the middle and the lower middle order together.
As said by Patidar, he is a brilliant player of spin bowling, with almost every shot in his arsenal.
His FC average is fifth highest among the Indians in the history of the sport, sitting behind the names like Vijay Merchant and Sarfaraz Khan, showing a lot of temperament.
Conclusion
As things stand, India is on the lookout for a middle order batter, and their search has seen quite a few options being thrown around, while none of them have cemented their spots yet.
With such impressive performances in a substantial number of games, Rathod has earned his right to claim a place in the India A set-up.
At just 25, he has a lot to offer and an India A call-up would be the perfect start to test him against good opposition, before gradually letting him climb the ladder, if he manages to replicate these performances.
