In the heart of Nagpur, where cricket dreams are nurtured amid the hustle of family-run paan shops and early-morning nets, Yash Rathod has scripted a story of perseverance and big scores. At 25, the left-handed batsman has become the cornerstone of Vidarbha’s domestic dominance, topping the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy charts with 960 runs at 53.33, including five centuries. But batting at No. 5 in Indian domestic cricket is no walk in the park—it’s a role that demands rescuing teams from early collapses or grinding out runs on a softening ball after the top order has feasted. Rathod has mastered both, often turning crises into triumphs.
In an exclusive interview with Cric Insights, Yash Rathod opens up about his journey, from a toddler wielding a plastic bat to leading Vidarbha to their third Ranji title. “The best thing about our team is unity. Because every team has a skill set. Mindset is everything. But unity is something which is very important. Jell Up stays together whether you’re winning or losing,” he reflects on Vidarbha’s success. With a young squad boasting IPL stars like Umesh Yadav and Jitesh Sharma, Vidarbha is challenging Mumbai’s long-held supremacy, reaching white-ball finals like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and excelling in T20s.
The Toddler’s Tryst: Early Days Shaped by Family Dreams
Yash Rathod’s cricket odyssey began unusually early—at just two-and-a-half years old. His paternal uncle, Pawan Rathod (whom he calls “bade papa”), couldn’t pursue his own cricketing ambitions due to family constraints but vowed to live them through his nephew. “Due to family constraints, I could never pursue my dream of being a professional cricketer. I wanted to live my dream through him,” Pawan shares.
Pawan took young Yash to coaching camps, convincing skeptical coach Baba Kaware to train the toddler. By age four or five, Yash was hooked, though initially without personal ambition. “Honestly, it is my elder father, whom I mentioned to you. We had a dream of him playing cricket. I want to play at that level,” Rathod tells Cric Insights, crediting his uncle as his first coach, mentor, and inspiration. The routine was grueling: Pawan worked at the family paan shop until 2 AM, then ensured Yash was at the ground by 5 AM, sleeping just 2-3 hours. This discipline continued for 13-14 years, through winters and monsoons.
At eight, Yash shifted to Reshimbagh Gymkhana under Shishir Sudame, and later to Madhav Bakre’s NCA at 14, where Bakre provided endless resources. “Bakre sir played a key role in shaping Yash’s career… We owe a lot to him,” Pawan recalls. Family support extended to his mother, who bolstered him during slumps: “If I have not scored any runs today, it does not matter, I will score tomorrow.” Rathod gives full credit to them: “My uncle is my inspiration, guide, and everything. I give all credit to him for my career.”
Age-Group Ascendancy: Awards and International Exposure
Yash Rathod’s talent bloomed in junior cricket. He twice won the BCCI’s Naman Award (now M.A. Chidambaram Trophy)—once for topping runs in Under-16 (Vijay Merchant Trophy) and once in Under-23 (Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy). In the 2017-18 Under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy, he amassed 945 runs at 94.5, with four centuries, helping Vidarbha clinch the title. He also shone in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy as Central Zone’s second-highest scorer.
This earned him India Under-19 spots. In 2018, he toured Sri Lanka for Youth Tests and ODIs, scoring 34 in a drawn Test. He featured in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup too. “Those experiences taught me international pressure,” he tells Cric Insights. In November 2019, he played the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh, even bowling to take three wickets against Nepal.
One lingering regret? The 2019 semi-final against Pakistan, where India lost by three runs from a winning position. Rathod scored 13 but rues a poor shot: “Going back in the match against Pakistan, I would have corrected the shot that I had played and played some different shot, it would have been better for me… It was a great game for me, someone once asked me a question that what is the biggest regret in your life? And if you had to go back and change something, what would you do? So I had said the same thing.”
Domestic Breakthrough: From Debut to Daddy Hundreds
Yash Rathod’s senior debut came in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, helping Vidarbha post 150/7 against Services. In First-Class, he debuted in 2023. The 2023-24 Ranji saw him score 490 runs at 49, including a maiden century: 141 in the semi-final against Madhya Pradesh—a “daddy hundred” dedicated to his uncle. “In age group cricket, whenever he has crossed 30-40 runs, more often than not, Yash has posted a century.
The 2024-25 season was stellar: 960 runs, five centuries, undefeated as Vidarbha won the title. Key knocks included a hat-trick of tons, 112 in the quarter-final vs. Tamil Nadu, and a career-best 151 in the semi-final vs. Mumbai. “Batting at five in domestic cricket is tough – either early wickets fall, or the ball is soft. I’ve handled both,” Rathod explains to Cric Insights, highlighting how he extracts his team from tough spots.
White-ball form surged too. In Vijay Hazare 2024-25, he scored 116 in the semi-final vs. Maharashtra helped post 380/3. However, his Vidarbha Premier League T20 stint was lackluster—a “big lesson”: “I need to improve in white-ball like I have in red-ball.”
Mindset and Preparation: Visualizing Success
Rathod’s uncle instilled a key mantra: Aim for four-digit seasonal tallies. “If you want to see Honey’s score for the season, it is better if it remains in four digits at any time… Since then, it has always been in my mind that if I play the entire season, I have to score 1000 runs. This season also my plan was that I have to score runs.” He’s achieved 1000+ runs in 3-4 age-group seasons.
His mindset is unique: “I visualize differently – if I think 1000 runs, I get close. For Vidarbha to be champions, we did it.” Preparation is tailored—6 AM sessions in dew for swing/seam, mud pitches for turn, plastic balls on granite for bounce. “I keep preparation simple, analyzing videos to identify flaws, discussing with my coach, and practicing consistently until satisfied.” On surviving Indian cricket’s grind, he stresses relieving pressure and mental resilience: “Handling setbacks in cricket, they are not easy to overcome.”
Eyes on the Future: India Dream and Beyond
“Obviously, playing for India is the goal,” Rathod asserts to Cric Insights, eyeing Tests as the pinnacle. He’s gearing up for Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, and India A’s Australia tour. “I aim to score 1000 runs in the upcoming season again, become the top white ball cricket batsman in India, and lead in Vijay Hazare and T20 cricket.” With First-Class stats of 1,505 runs at 48.54 (six centuries) and List A 859 at 47.72 (three centuries), selectors can’t ignore him long.
As Rathod puts it, belief and hard work conquer all: “Mindset is everything.” Vidarbha’s rise, fueled by young talent, signals a new era in domestic cricket—one where Rathod’s bat leads the charge.
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