NAGPUR: Vidarbha think-tank has brought in young leaders as they transit to a new era. They have handed over the reins of Vidarbha one-day team to their prominent middle-order batter Akshay Wadkar. The wicketkeeper Wadkar has replaced one of the domestic cricket's finest openers — Faiz Fazal — as skipper for the forthcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy starting from November 12.
It is a bold move by Vidarbha to remove the two-time Ranji Trophy champion skipper, Faiz, from the captainship role in the 50-over format. Faiz was leading the side from the 2016-17 season. He had taken the baton from Subramaniam Badrinath, a professional.
Vidarbha officials have backed the decision. "We have to get ready for the next phase as Faiz is 37. We want to groom new leaders under Faiz, who does not have many years left. We have kept Faiz in the loop before taking the decision. It is a big plus for Wadkar as will lead with Faiz on the field," said a VCA official.
The think-tank has given the bigger responsibility to Wadkar after the wicketkeeper impressed officials by taking Vidarbha to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semifinals for two consecutive seasons.
In another big decision, the selectors have excluded Vidarbha's senior most offspinner Akshay Wakhare from the squad. It is for the first time that Wakhare, who is also 37, is out of the squad without any reason.
Wadkar will have a much touted left-arm spinner — youngster Harsh Dubey — in place of Wakhare in the team. Atharva Taide will be Wadkar's deputy. They were in similar capacities during the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s that concluded for Vidarbha on November 3.
Vidarbha are placed in Group B along with Delhi, Assam, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Sikkim and Jharkhand. All the matches will be played in Kolkata.
The squad: Akshay Wadkar (Captain), Atharva Taide (Vice-captain), Faiz Fazal, R. Sanjay, Ganesh Satish, Apoorv Wankhade, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Aditya Sarwate, Akshay Karnewar, Harsh Dubey, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Thakur, Lalit Yadav, Nachiket Bhute, Umesh Yadav
