Gurbani: Rajneesh Gurbani leaves Vidarbha for Maharashtra | Nagpur News

Nagpur: A wiry frame, bent from the waist, punching the air time and again, the trademark wicket-taking celebration, was one of the enduring images of Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph. The man who carried it out, Rajneesh Gurbani, will no longer be donning the Vidarbha cap. Gurbani, who conjured up magic spells – a hat-trick against Delhi in the final, a 7 for 68 to turn the tables on mighty Karnataka in the semi-final of the 2018-19 season – has decided to leave Vidarbha and move on. “It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to part ways with Vidarbha Cricket Association, taking into account my personal growth and other great opportunities that are coming my way,” Gurbani posted on Instagram on Thursday. The medium pacer, who has taken 111 wickets from 34 matches in the longer format at an average of 23.72, will join the Maharashtra outfit. Gurbani, who took five five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul, was one of the key architects of Vidarbha’s maiden Ranji Trophy triumph in the 2018-19 season. The swing bowler was the man of the match in the quarter-final, semi-final and final match and finished the season with 39 wickets at an average of 17.12 in six matches as Vidarbha lifted their maiden Ranji Trophy title. fell out of favour with the selectors. The 31-year-old got just one match in the last Ranji Trophy season. Before the start of last season, Gurbani emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the Bapuna Cup T20 Invitation Tournament, which featured outstation teams like Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Baroda. Despite taking wickets against top teams, Gurbani was not named in Vidarbha’s probable squad for the last edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. “The stump hurt him a lot. That was the point when he started looking for options. However, he holds Vidarbha cricket very close to his heart. Hopefully, he will be back with us one day,” a source in the Vidarbha team told TOI. Gurbani got a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) about two weeks ago to move to other teams, the source added. While there are offers from three to four teams, Gurbani will join Maharashtra. “He is likely to be the only professional player for Maharashtra next season. The wicket at the Gahunje Stadium, the home ground of the Maharashtra team, will suit his bowling style,” a source from the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) said.