Vidarbha, under the leadership of Akshay Wadkar, secured their third Ranji Trophy title at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, Nagpur, on Sunday. The final match against Kerala concluded in a draw; however, Vidarbha was declared the champion due to their first-innings advantage. Notably, all of Vidarbha's Ranji titles have been achieved within the last seven years.

As a result of this victory, Vidarbha will receive a prize of INR 5 crore. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had announced an increase in prize money for all domestic tournaments in April 2023.

This prize amount is only INR 20 lakh less than what the semi-finalists of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025 will earn. To clarify, the losing semi-finalists in this eight-team tournament will each receive $560,000, which is approximately INR 5.2 crore. Conversely, Kerala will be awarded INR 3 crore for their second-place finish.

The winner of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be granted a prize of $2.24 million (₹20.8 crore), while the runners-up will receive $1.12 million (₹10.4 crore).

Previously, the Indian cricket board significantly raised the prize money for all domestic tournaments for both men and women. The increase in men's prize money ranges from 60 to 300 percent, while the two women's tournaments experienced a rise exceeding 700 percent.

How much was the prize money for Ranji Trophy winners earlier?

Previously, the champions of the Ranji Trophy were awarded INR 2 crore for their victory in the prestigious red-ball tournament. However, this changed in 2023 when the then BCCI secretary, Jay Shah, revealed a significant overhaul, increasing the prize money for all domestic competitions.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated, "I am delighted to announce an enhancement in prize money for all @BCCI Domestic Tournaments. We will persist in our commitment to invest in Domestic Cricket, which serves as the foundation of Indian Cricket. The Ranji Trophy winners will now receive ₹5 crores (up from 2 crores), while the Senior Women’s winners will receive ₹50 lacs (increased from 6 lacs)."

I’m pleased to announce an increase in prize money for all @BCCI Domestic Tournaments. We will continue our efforts to invest in Domestic Cricket – which is the backbone of Indian Cricket. Ranji winners to get ₹5 crores (from 2 cr), Sr Women winners ₹50 lacs (from 6 lacs) pic.twitter.com/Cgpw47z98q

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) April 16, 2023

Returning to the Ranji Trophy final, Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar expressed that winning this prestigious tournament had always been a cherished aspiration of his. In the match against Kerala, Vidarbha established a crucial first-innings lead of 37 runs, which ultimately proved to be pivotal.

"As a captain, participating in the Ranji Trophy, I have always dreamed of lifting the trophy. This is a dream shared by every first-class cricketer, and we have now realized it. We are addressing all facets of our game," he remarked prior to receiving the trophy from BCCI President Roger Binny.

Karun Nair emerged as the standout player for Vidarbha in the first innings, achieving a century. The right-handed batsman concluded the season with a total of 863 runs across nine matches, which included four centuries and two half-centuries.

Previously, Vidarbha had also advanced to the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but unfortunately, they faltered in the decisive match against Karnataka.

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