Dubey’s performance was not only the catalyst for bowling out Madhya Pradesh for 209 in 66.1 overs, but it also etched his name into the record books as the first Vidarbha bowler to take nine wickets in a single innings in the tournament's history. His figures surpassed the previous record held by Arun Ogiral, who took 8/39 against the same opposition during the 1967-68 season.
A dominant display of spin bowling
After Madhya Pradesh opted to bat first, the visitors found early stability before Dubey began his relentless assault. Following an initial breakthrough by teammate Nachiket Bhute, who dismissed opener Yash Dubey, the left-arm spinner took control of the proceedings. He began his wicket-taking spree in the 17th over and consistently troubled the batting lineup, leaving Madhya Pradesh reeling at 64/5 by the 29th over.
Despite a resilient 85-run knock from Atharva Mahajan and a 34-run contribution from Saransh Jain, who combined for a 72-run partnership, Dubey remained composed. He eventually broke the stand and proceeded to clean up the tail, ensuring he accounted for nine of the ten wickets to fall. The feat makes him the 30th bowler in the history of the Ranji Trophy to claim nine or more wickets in an innings, joining Gujarat’s Siddharth Desai as the most recent player to achieve the milestone.
National recognition and match context
The timing of the performance could not have been more significant, as it coincided with the BCCI’s announcement of the 15-member India squad for the
This selection serves as the latest highlight in a productive year for the all-rounder, who previously made his ODI debut against Afghanistan in June and gained experience with India A in Sri Lanka. Having already secured 23 wickets in seven innings during the current Ranji Trophy campaign, Dubey continues to bolster his reputation as a rising talent in the domestic circuit. Following the conclusion of the first day's play, Vidarbha faced a challenging start with the bat, finishing at 56/4 as Kumar Kartikeya and Avesh Khan kept Madhya Pradesh in the contest.
