‘Have the belief’: Vidarbha's Yash Rathod eyes ‘something extraordinary’ to fulfill burning desire of representing India

It is a nippy mid-December evening in Nagpur. The winter chill is threatening to take over from the setting sun. A nice breeze is accompanying the drop in temperature, but a semblance of natural light still remains, and that is enough for budding young cricketers to keep playing.

Among those is a 25-year-old. Brought up in Nagpur and earmarked for success since his school days. He goes by the name of Yash Rathod. And he averages more than 61 in First-Class cricket. His numbers are the source of envy for many. But for him, it does not seem enough. Or maybe that is how it feels because even with the sun disappearing in the distance, he wants more, and is putting in the hard yards.

“Preparation is very important. That is what gives you confidence on the field. If you don’t have the skill to adapt to the conditions and the bowlers, there will be a fear of failure. I have the belief and the confidence that I can do well,” he tells Firstpost when talking about his impressive start to the domestic season, and when chatting about his preparation process in general, which is a non-negotiable.

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Through this period, he has had to encounter several tricky tracks, including in Vidarbha’s most recent Ranji Trophy fixture against Baroda, where he was the only batter to cross 75. Some pitches have spun, spit and kept low from day one. Others have swung and seamed around corners. But each of these situations was carpe diem for him. Rather than something to fret over nervously.

“The more challenging the wicket is, the more the character of a player shines through, and being able to show that character always feels good", he says.

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Referring to one such instance, Rathod looks back fondly on the Vijay Hazare Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh in January 2025. The pitch was not a minefield, but the situation was not a cakewalk either.

Rathod, opening the batting, was scratchy initially as Vidarbha chased 308. But once Karun Nair – who had given Rathod a stamp of approval not long after Rathod’s debut – asked the youngster to play the sweep shot that often got Rathod runs, he was a batter transformed. On that day and throughout the tournament, finishing with more than 400 runs at an average of 67.66 and a strike rate nearing 96. All while playing a slightly unfamiliar role at the top.

This may not sound like much, but it does highlight how Rathod, even in the heat of the battle, is not averse to taking advice on board and implementing it. Most of which comes from his innate desire to keep learning and improving. A trait that all great batters, in some capacity, have had.

Shades of Gambhir in Rathod

He also says he has picked up a lot of details from past and present cricketers, naming the likes of Gautam Gambhir, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as people he looked up to.

And there is, in fact, a bit of Gambhir in his batting style. In the way he dominates spin, in how he uses his feet to come down the track, while also being adept enough to rock back and play off the back foot. That never-say-die badge Gambhir so often wore in India colours, is also a major feature of Rathod’s batting.

Usman Ghani, who has worked closely with Rathod and is Vidarbha’s head coach, also talks about Rathod’s mental strength, his ability to adapt, and how much of a keen learner he is.

“He is a very good listener. Work ethics are very good. He has worked on some aspects in his batting seriously and he has gotten the runs. He is very focused, a very strong lad, and he always comes and talks to us on what more he can do. He is never satisfied and he always tries to improve. He is very strong mentally too. He adapts quickly. We don’t get the same wickets everywhere. He has that knack to read (conditions) early and convert it into good scores. He goes with what the plan of the team is, and he prepares very well.”

Rathod, in Ghani’s words, has had to tackle a few shortcomings against pace along the way, particularly important because that type of bowling is what he will likely face a lot more of if he were to make the step up. But Rathod has tackled each challenge with enthusiasm and thus far, with success. As for his batting against spin, well, that was never really a problem.

“Against spin, he is a master. His footwork is very pleasing to watch. He never lets the spinners settle, irrespective of the conditions and does not allow them to hold a length. We (here at Vidarbha) are very hopeful that one day, he will go on and play for the country," Ghani says.

That is particularly pertinent because India, all of a sudden, seem to have run into batting problems in home Tests and against spin. Maybe someone like Rathod, who thrives when facing spin in domestic cricket, could be the answer.

Standing up when the lights shine at their brightest

Another appealing attribute is that he relishes the pressure and the scrap of a game being on the line. Like it was against Mumbai in last season’s Ranji Trophy semi-final. Vidarbha had a healthy first innings lead, but had slipped to 56-4 in their second. Mumbai, sensing an opening, put all sorts of pressure on Rathod – with the ball, with their field placements and with a bit of chatter.

But Rathod remained unfazed. Rather than baulking at the circumstances, he looked at it as an opportunity. Several hours and 90 overs later, Rathod walked off the field with 151 in his kitty, and with Vidarbha having put up a mountain of runs to chase for Mumbai.

It is no surprise that he rates that as one of his favourite knocks, alongside a hundred he mustered against Maharashtra (as an opener) in the Vijay Hazare Trophy that same year. That too came in a semi-final, further illustrating his propensity to adapt, and stand up when the lights shine at their brightest.

Another example is his 194 in the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone. He strode out with his side in a slight spot of bother at 93-3, only to plunder South Zone into submission. Yet, he was, in coach Ghani’s words, still disappointed because he felt he could have batted for longer and scored many more. The hunger for runs, of that ilk especially, cannot be taught. Rathod just has it. In abundance too.

He has not been able to crack the T20 code yet, although that is not due to a lack of preparation.
“T20 cricket is on my mind, I want to play all formats for Vidarbha. I do prepare for it but but my execution has not been great so far. Hopefully next year, starting from the VPTL (Vidarbha Pro T20 League), it can happen," he quips.

If that indeed comes about, Rathod would add another string to his bow. And T20s do have a tendency to occupy more of the onlookers’ psyche. Guess that is a drawback of the times we live in. That the glitzier, more visible tournaments seemingly supersede the domestic grind, even if the latter prepares players better for certain challenges.

Breaking down selection doors

It may or may not be right. But in this day and age, it does seem to matter. Even when it really should not. The good thing, however, is Rathod knows what he needs to do. He is aware of where he wants to be, but is also mindful of how far he may still need to go.

“You feel bad when you don’t get selected. But when I spoke to seniors, they told me it (selection) is not in my control. What is in my control is scoring runs. The perfect example is Sarfaraz Khan. He scored so many runs and got an India call-up. Same goes for Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair. If you want to break down the door, you have to do something extraordinary,” Rathod remarks.

He is well en route to accomplishing that. In six Ranji Trophy innings this season, he has 474 runs at a remarkable average of 118.5, and is aiming to breach the 1000-run barrier, which he missed by 40 runs last season. In the immediate term, albeit in another format, he has a chance to strengthen his credentials in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Rathod, as told by coach Ghani, has become the back bone for Vidarbha’s batting, and it seems to have been that way since he made his debut. Back then, he was struggling to get into the team. But Ghani asked Rathod to deliver with runs in club cricket and in selection trials so that he could include him in the side because even at that age and stage of his career, everyone knew what Rathod was capable of, having previously prospered in age-group cricket.

Rathod did that. He scored runs, got into the side and has not looked back since, with Vidarbha reaping the benefits of his level-headedness, his adaptability, his proclivity to stand up when the chips are down, and his problem-solving. On square turners, on seaming tracks, on flatter pitches, in the heat, in the cold and quite literally everywhere.

And now, India could benefit as well. Rathod will be itching to do that too. Because that, essentially, forms the crux of his existence as a player. A burning desire to represent the country, and an even greater appetite to do whatever it takes and enhance whatever he can, just to realise a dream he has long seen and perhaps even manifested.

“It is a dream to play for India. There will be pressure, fear of failure, of not wanting to let the opportunity go. But if you are there, it means you have the skill. So, it boils down to your mental preparation. In the Ranji Trophy as well, I try not to overthink things and I try to just react,” he says.

All he needs now is a chance. To replicate his domestic returns under the far greater glare of international cricket. And, to just react to what challenges an international gig might throw up. His coaches, his teammates, those who have watched him, those who have followed him, and those who he might call his people, have all felt that that moment is not a million miles away.

And if he keeps scoring as he has done in recent times, it may not be long before that sentiment is echoed by every cricket aficionado in the nation. Irrespective of whether they are braving the Nagpur chill and watching Rathod in the flesh. Or in any other part across the length and the breadth of this country.