With Vidarbha, Harsh Dubey has had an amazing Ranji Trophy 2024–25 campaign. At an impressive average of 14.50, the left-arm spinner has taken 55 wickets in his 14 innings of bowling so far. Despite bowling in an innings fewer than Dubey, the next-highest wicket-taker is 17 wickets ahead of the 22-year-old due to his dominance.
Recently, former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his thoughts about Vidarbha’s up-and-coming talent on X.
So happy for Harsh.
I am sure good things await this wonderful talent.👌👌 #ranjitrophy pic.twitter.com/sYVSZQh6KS— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 8, 2025
Harsh Dubey talks about his unexpected conversation with Ashwin, a former Vidarbha teammate.
A fascinating series of events led to the cricket player’s chance to play in the Chennai League, as the promising player disclosed. There was a phone conversation with Rajneesh Gurbani that went Dubey’s way; no trials or anything of that nature were necessary. Dubey explained that the fantastic opportunity for Ashwin also resulted from Ashwin seeing promise in his bowling.
I had been left off of the Ranji squad, therefore I was playing Madhya Pradesh in the semi-final of the CK Nayudu Trophy [Under-23 tournament] at Vadodara. I just took seven wickets and batted for 60 not-out. I had barely gone back to my room when I received a call from my friend Rajneesh Gurbani, the former fast bowler for Vidarbha who currently plays for Maharashtra.
He bowled net for the Rajasthan Royals during the IPL. As Ash bhai chance to ask Gurbani if he knew of a left-arm spinner from our state, he was playing chess against him. He was also informed by Gurbani about me and another player. After searching for my name online and viewing a few videos of me bowling, Ashwin asked Gurbani whether she would like to play in the Chennai League, according to Dubey.
“I was called right away by Gurbani. As I recall it, I was tired and headed back to the motel. “Honey, are you going to play in the Chennai League?” he asks. I told him I wasn’t thinking about playing right now since I was too weary. After then, I realised what I had just stated. Sarwate, Dubey’s Vidarbha colleague at the time, was playing in Chennai when I hurriedly called him to ask him about it. He said, “If you’re getting a chance there, hands down go for it.” After that, I informed Gurbani over the phone. It all began there,” Dubey continued.
Vidarbha led Group B in the current round of the domestic red-ball championship with six wins after seven games. In Nagpur, they are presently playing Tamil Nadu in the quarterfinal series.
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