Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Experienced Sarwate’s match-defining spell sets up final date with former team

As Kerala took to the field on day five of the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Gujarat, the team was in desperate need of inspiration to mount a comeback.

Gujarat’s lower order had stitched together crucial partnerships, leaving just 28 runs to chase on the final day with three wickets in hand. Kerala had been heavily reliant on ace all-rounder Jalaj Saxena, who had claimed four wickets earlier to keep his side in contention.

Enter Aditya Sarwate, the seasoned left-arm spinner, making his maiden campaign with Kerala following a pre-season move from Vidarbha.

Despite the fifth-day pitch offering little turn, Sarwate rose to the occasion, taking the remaining wickets and restricting the home side to 455, just two runs shy of Kerala’s first-innings total.

“I’ve been playing for Vidarbha for the last 10 years, so it was extremely emotional for me to leave that side and come to a new place,” the all-rounder said.

“But from day one, I didn’t feel like an outsider here. The players, the coaching staff, and Amay [Khurasiya] sir have been exceptionally welcoming, helping me feel at home,” he added.

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Sarwate detailed the team’s approach on the final morning, explaining how they applied pressure on the Gujarat batters, making them fight for every run.

“Batting at one end was difficult for the left-hander due to the rough, so our plan was for me to bowl from that end while Jalaj [Saxena] bhai operated from the other,” he said.

“With only 28 runs to defend, we decided that I should attack from one end while he [Jalaj] focused on containing the runs,” he explained.

The all-rounder brushed aside any comparisons with his teammate, referring to Saxena as the ‘G.O.A.T’ (Greatest of All Time).

“He has been playing for 20 years. I’m no one in front of him. Scoring 7,000 runs and taking 450 wickets is no mean feat,” Sarwate said.

“I just try to be in his presence, ask him about match situations and conditions. I’m learning a lot from him, and he has been a great guide for me too,” he added.

Sarwate had his hands on his head when skipper Sachin Baby dropped Jaymeet Patel’s catch at short cover with just 23 runs left for Gujarat to draw level.

“We thought it was over because it wasn’t the catch of a tail-ender—it was a batter who had already scored 70 runs,” he said.

“I was frustrated and disappointed because the wicket wasn’t behaving like a typical fifth-day pitch. It was quite flat, and in such situations, one crucial catch or a run-out can turn the game,” he added.

The upcoming final will be Sarwate’s fourth, having won two titles with Vidarbha in 2017-18 and 2018-19 before finishing on the losing side against Mumbai last year. He will now face his former team in the summit clash, which will be played in Nagpur from February 26.

“I’m used to playing semifinals and finals. As a 35-year-old, my motivation now is to pass on my experience to the youngsters and help the team qualify. I’m happy we managed to do that,” he said.