MatériaMais Notícias

O mercado de apostas esportivas está crescendo no Brasil a passos largos, e é cada vez maior o número de brasileiros em busca de notícias e dicas atualizadas como uma forma confiável e segura de dar os seus palpites.

E pode ser uma verdadeira tortura passar horas buscando informações em diferentes sites até encontrar a dica ou estatística que você precisa antes de uma partida importante! Mas, não se preocupe, para ajudá-lo, o TipsPro está chegando ao Brasil.

Com o auxílio do TipsPro.com.br, você nunca mais precisará passar horas diante de tabelas complicadas ou verificando o resultado de partidas antes de fazer suas apostas em futebol! Para isso, basta se cadastrar no site de forma totalmente gratuita para ter acesso a dicas diárias de futebol, incluindo os principais campeonatos nacionais e internacionais, como o Campeonato Brasileiro e as principais ligas Europeias.

Uma vez que você tenha criado uma conta via e-mail ou até mesmo via chat do WhatsApp, você passará a receber até 30 dias por dia! Pense nisso por um instante: São cerca de 1000 dicas por mês e até 12,000 dicas por ano das principais competições esportivas cobertas pelas casas de apostas atuando no Brasil, com o foco na paixão nacional, o futebol. Já imaginou receber em seu celular, 365 dias por ano, as dicas mais quentes de futebol que você pode desejar para conduzir suas apostas? É isso que o TipsPro fará por você, enviando informações relevantes todos os dias, logo pela manhã. E, o melhor, todas as dicas enviadas contém estatísticas, fatos sobre a partida e todas as informações de bastidores que possuem relevância quando você está decidindo em quem irá postar!

Após realizar seu cadastro, você terá a opção de escolher quais são os campeonatos e esportes deseja acompanhar, e pronto! As dicas serão enviadas automaticamente todos os dias, e você ainda terá acesso a todo o acervo do site desde o seu lançamento, para não ficar por fora de absolutamente nada do que está acontecendo no mundo da bola. Veja os principais campeonatos cobertos:
• Campeonatos Estaduais
• Brasileirão (Série A e B)
• Premier League
• Bundesliga

Esses são apenas alguns dos campeonatos cobertos pelo TipsPro. E, se podemos destacar uma desvantagem, é que por enquanto eles estão se concentrando mais em dicas de futebol do que para os outros esportes. Outra preocupação dos apostadores é se o serviço possui uma boa reputação, e quanto a isso você não precisa se preocupar. O TipsPro possui uma equipe especializada e empenhada em acompanhar não só o que acontece no mundo da bola, mas também quando se trata do mercado de apostas internacional.

Os principais especialistas trabalhando para o TipsPro possuem mais de 10 anos de experiência nesse segmento, estudando para trazer as dicas mais quentes e análises baseadas em dados estatísticos, tudo para garantir que os apostadores tenham a melhor experiência possível. Então, seja você um apostador que ainda está dando seus primeiros passos ou um jogador mais experiente, com a TipsPro você pode levar suas apostas em futebol a um outro nível. Se há uma coisa certa nesse mercado é que sempre há espaço para aprender e se aperfeiçoar. O serviço também é uma ótima oportunidade para os apostadores brasileiros se arriscarem nas ligas internacionais, onde estão algumas das melhores oportunidades para lucrar em partidas emocionantes e em alguns dos melhores campeonatos do mundo.

A melhor parte? Tudo isso se forma rápida, gratuita e com uma linguagem simples, descomplicando o mundo das apostas esportivas e mantendo-o informado todos os dias sobre o que está acontecendo no futebol.

RelacionadasSão PauloSão Paulo inclui 14 novidades na lista de Libertadores: veja os 40 inscritosSão Paulo14/09/2020Futebol InternacionalMandzukic negocia sua volta ao futebol europeuFutebol Internacional14/09/2020FlamengoDiego Alves desfalca Flamengo em jogos da Libertadores no EquadorFlamengo14/09/2020

Dwayne Bravo picked up his 400th T20 wicket to restrict Hobart Hurricanes to 164, and Cameron White went past 5000 T20 runs as he chased the target down with ease

Alex Malcolm21-Dec-2017
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsThe Melbourne Renegades recruited spree-turned heads during the off-season but it was some familiar faces that orchestrated a comprehensive first-up win over the Hobart Hurricanes. Dwayne Bravo became the first man to 400 T20 wickets and showed how valuable a commodity he is with his second five-wicket haul in T20 cricket to restrict the Hurricanes to a sub-par 164.Then Cameron White wound back the clock with a vintage unbeaten 79 to guide his side home with nine balls to spare. He was ably supported by Marcus Harris (50 off 34) and Renegade-turned-Striker-turned-Renegade Brad Hodge (22* off 14).It was Bravo who set the game up after the Renegades elected to bowl at the toss. He bowled four one over spells, all of which dragged the Hurricanes back after they threatened to post an enormous total on an excellent batting surface.Cameron White cuts one during his match-winning 79 off 59 balls•Getty ImagesThe new opening pairing of D’Arcy Short and Alex Doolan raced to 48 after five overs before Bravo’s mix of slower balls firstly yielded three dots to Doolan and then took him out, caught at short third man while trying a big shot down the ground. Short’s troubles against spin compared to his class against pace was evident when Brad Hogg slid one into his front pad as he tried awkwardly to sweep off an ill-advised length.Ben McDermott and George Bailey then ripped into Hogg, taking 22 from the 11th over of the innings to move the total to a healthy 2 for 102.Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi delivered an excellent over of offspin in the 12th conceding just four runs. The Hurricanes went 17 balls without a boundary before McDermott was caught off a Bravo slower ball.The Hurricanes spluttered from there with Nabi bowling four overs for just 25 and picking up Bailey. Matthew Wade was the only one to hit Bravo over the rope before he became the seamer’s fifth victim off the final ball of the innings.Jofra Archer in his delivery stride•Getty ImagesThe Renegades chase started horribly with Aaron Finch falling in the first over. White and Harris then combined for a 113-run stand, weathering the Hurricanes battery of express pace bowlers with some sound scoring plans and a touch of good fortune. They used the pace and waited for loose deliveries rather than trying to fight fire with fire.Jofra Archer was only Hurricanes bowler not to concede more than nine an over. He took 2 for 17 from four overs including a rare gem of a double-wicket maiden in the 14th to give the Renegades chase the speed wobbles.But Hodge, fresh from facing military mediums on synthetic pitches in sub-district cricket in Melbourne, launched the second ball he faced, a 140-plus kph rocket from Aaron Summers, onto the hill to ease the pressure.White went about his work with a minimum of fuss, as he has done so often in his career. On another day he would have been a worthy Man of the Match, but that honour went to Bravo.

تحدث آرني سلوت، لأول مرة، بعد إعلان توليه مسؤولية تدريب فريق ليفربول خلفًا للألماني يورجن كلوب، اليوم الإثنين.

كان يورجن كلوب قد ودع ليفربول، أمس الأحد، في المباراة الأخيرة ضد ولفرهامبتون في الدوري الإنجليزي حيث فاز الفريق بهدفين دون رد.

اقرأ أيضًا.. محمد صلاح يوجه رسالة إلى كلوب بعد رحيله عن ليفربول

وأصدر ليفربول، اليوم، بيانًا رسميًا، للإعلان عن إسناد مهمة تدريب الفريق إلى آرني سلوت، مدرب فينورد.

وقال سلوت في تصريحات للموقع الرسمي للنادي الهولندي: “من المؤكد أنه ليس قرارًا سهلاً أن ترحل عن نادٍ عشت فيه الكثير من اللحظات الرائعة وعملت بنجاح مع العديد من الأشخاص الرائعين”.

وأضاف: “ولكن كرياضي، من الصعب تجاهل فرصة أن أصبح مدربًا بارزًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، في أحد أكبر الأندية في العالم”.

وواصل: “لقد استمتعت تمامًا بالسنوات الثلاث التي أمضيتها في فينورد وشعرت كثيرًا بأنني في بيتي منذ اليوم الأول، سواء داخل النادي أو مع المشجعين”.

وأردف: “”عندما بدأت في فينورد روتردام في صيف 2021، كنت مقتنعًا بأنه من الممكن تحقيق النجاح في هذا النادي الرائع، حقيقة أننا وصلنا إلى نهائي أوروبي في ثلاث سنوات وفوزنا بالعديد من الجوائز تجعلني أكثر من فخور”.

The PCB’s tweaking of its anti-corruption code will not apply to Sharjeel Khan’s case. The board made the clarification a day after Sharjeel and his lawyer accused them of modifying the code while a tribunal was sitting over the spot-fixing case in which he was implicated.A statement issued by the PCB said the amendment “will affect future cases and does not apply to Sharjeel Khan”.On Tuesday, Sharjeel’s lawyer Shaighan Ejaz said the PCB had amended a clause in the code on July 18, 2017 and stipulated that it retrospectively apply to Sharjeel’s case. They accused the PCB of acting in bad faith. The PCB’s lawyer, Taffazul Rizvi, had, in response, stressed that it was a routine change. “Such amendments are never person-specific, and are applicable to all cricketers,” he said.The change to the clause has to do with the process of appealing the tribunal’s decision. The old clause allowed a player to appeal to an independent adjudicator or go to the Court of Arbitration [Sports], based in Lausanne, Switzerland.With the tweak, a player can go to the CAS only after he has appealed to an independent adjudicator, which Sharjeel has in his case. After the appeal, the player has 21 days to go to the CAS.The change, according to one official, was the result of a “grammatical error” in the original code, which mirrors, in large part, the ICC’s anti-corruption code.”The true state of affairs is that under both versions of the PCB Code (old and new) an appeal against the order of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal lies with the Independent Adjudicator,” the PCB’s statement said.”Article 7.5.4 provides that the decision of the independent adjudicator on the appeal shall be final and binding on all parties. The amendment made by PCB in fact provides parties with an additional opportunity to appeal i.e. before Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Sporting bodies including cricket regard CAS as the final court of appeal.”The PCB also pointed out that nothing was stopping Sharjeel from going to Pakistan’s judiciary, referring to Article 11.5 of the code: “…the Courts of Pakistan shall have exclusive jurisdiction to issue relief….and/or to hear and determine challenges to any decision issued by the Anti-Corruption Tribunal and/or CAS.”Theoretically that means Sharjeel could file a writ petition in Pakistan’s courts. But if it does go to court, the PCB is likely to argue that Sharjeel should first approach the CAS – as per their code. Sharjeel’s lawyer has already said that going to the CAS was not a realistic option for the batsman owing to the expense he would need to undertake.Pakistani courts have been involved in a number PCB cases over the years, and aren’t unknown to overturning board decisions on, among other things, player bans and punishments.

Tottenham Hotspur journalist Alasdair Gold has made a promising claim on Spurs and their remaining transfer business of the window this summer.

Who will Spurs sign?

Ange Postecoglou has seemingly reinvigorated sections of the Lilywhites fanbase with his brand of outright attacking football, and Spurs are starting the new season very well.

It's early days but they remain unbeaten over their first two league matches, having sealed a 2-2 draw away to Brentford on the opening weekend and exceptional 2-0 win at home to Man United last Saturday.

Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr bossed the midfield with their displays against Erik ten Hag's side, now looking transformed under Postecoglou so far, but there is still work to be done this transfer window.

Tottenham have already sealed the signings of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz, but Postecoglou has previously hinted at the possibility of another defender.

“It's not done yet," said Postecoglou earlier this month.

"We need bolstering in that central defensive area. We need defenders who can work in an aggressive formation, defend well & behind them. We'll be looking to bring in a couple in that area in the coming days."

Postecoglou later said that outgoings need to happen first before bringing in more players, though, so exits will be crucial over this final stage of the window.

"We've to see what happens with outgoings," explained Postecoglou thereafter.

"But, the potential is there to bring in one more centre back after van de Ven."

It appears Spurs will be prioritizing outgoings first, but that isn't to say they aren't making some transfer plans behind-the-scenes, as reliable reporter Gold of football.london explains on his YouTube channel.

The Tottenham correspondent, making a promising claim, has suggested that the club have deals "lined up" and "ready to go" once they shift certain squad members.

Gold said (via The Boot Room):

“Postecoglou said that himself in his press conference on Friday he pretty much said how there’s areas in defence, midfield and attack that they can upgrade on as well.

“I kind of get the feeling that Spurs have got a number of deals lined up ready to go if they can get the players out of the squad first.”

Who should Tottenham sign?

We believe the defensive area needs more reinforcement, especially after last season, where they shipped a pretty poor 63 league goals.

Torino centre-back Perr Schuurs is the star defender to have been most recently linked with a move to north London, and the player may well be available for an attainable £28 million.

The colossal ace made 30 Serie A appearances under Torino boss Ivan Juric last season, all while making more successful tackles and clearances per 90 than any other player in their squad (WhoScored).

Journalist Josh Bunting, taking to X in 2022, was effusive in his praise for Schuurs – who he called a "mountain" at the back for Torino.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

If Spurs move forward on their alleged interest, he could be excellent back up to the likes of Cristian Romero and van de Ven.

Everton are interested in bolstering their attacking ranks with a struggling star following news of Demarai Gray's supposed departure to Saudi Arabia this month.

What's the latest on Callum Hudson-Odoi to Everton?

According to the Evening Standard, Sean Dyche's Everton could make a swoop for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi after Fulham's reluctance to meet the £8m transfer fee, with fellow top-flight rivals Nottingham Forest also interested.

Sky Sports report Dharmesh Sheth has since corroborated such claims by stating that the Cottagers' negotiations have indeed stalled, paving the way for the Toffees to hijack the deal.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE…

Everton have bolstered the attacking ranks with a wealth of acquisitions this summer, but yielding no points and no goals from their first two Premier League matches, it's understandable that Dyche seeks further firepower.

How good is Callum Hudson-Odoi?

Hudson-Odoi had the world at his feet.

The fleet-footed wideman had burst onto the scene at Stamford Bridge, hailed as "brilliant" and "the big one" by pundit Darren Bent after a scintillating performance against West Bromwich Albion back in 2020, but the three-cap England international has hit his nadir after a heavy fall from grace.

He was even the subject of £70m transfer attention from Bayern Munich in 2020, though Chelsea rejected the German Bundesliga champions' advances and now look to offload their struggling star for a paltry £8m.

The talent is unequivocal, however, and there is a reason that Hudson-Odoi was earning such lucrative attention in the formative phase of his career, described as "amazingly talented" by scout Jacek Kulig.

Despite an inauspicious loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen last season, where the ace posted just one goal and one assist from 21 outings, starting 13 times, the Cobham graduate boasts a wealth of qualities that could arrest the awe of the Everton masses once provided with a platform to truly grow into his skin.

As per FBref, Hudson-Odoi ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 18% for progressive passes and the top 15% for progressive carries per 90.

Effectively, this highlights both the crispness of his ball-playing skills and his aptitude as a box-crashing vessel, and while the fluidity in decisive moments has faded, he could yet restore his impetus.

It could be an especially prudent move to make given the likely departure of Gray at Everton, with the 27-year-old poised for a move to Saudi club Al Shabab after the Toffees reached an agreement on a fee, though first will look to secure a replacement.

Enter Hudson-Odoi.

The £180k-per-week gem – who the Evening Standard claim will take a 'significant' pay cut to get his career back on track – can play across both flanks and actually trumps his Jamaican counterpart in several key elements.

Indeed, Gray ranks among the bottom 22% of attacking midfielders and wingers for progressive passes, the bottom 1% for progressive passes, the bottom 23% for successful take-ons and the top 37% for progressive carries per 90.

The £25k-per-week attacker did manage to score six goals from 36 matches across all competitions last term, but his overall game does not cut the mustard considering the sustenance of Everton as a top-flight outfit.

Hudson Odoi – roughly five years younger – has had a tough time of late and is leagues below the expectation when this prodigious bundle of talent announced himself at Stamford Bridge several years ago, but he has maintained some of the core qualities requisite for success and Dyche would do well to discard Gray and provide the Chelsea star with the opportunity to tap into his potential on Merseyside.

Rangers are interested in completing the signing of Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper in the summer transfer window, and a new update has shared some insight on whether a deal will be affordable.

How much does Jake Cooper earn?

The 28-year-old, who currently earns £10,000 per week, has become an important player for his current club, having arrived from Reading back in 2017.

Cooper has made 302 appearances for Millwall to date, scoring 22 goals and chipping in with 17 assists, highlighting what an influential long-term player he has been for the Championship side. He is out of contract there at the end of next season, however, so they may decide to cash on him this summer, rather than lose him for free in 2024.

Read the latest Rangers transfer news HERE…

Rangers are still looking for new signings, in order to aid their Scottish Premiership title challenge in 2023/24, and a new central defender is arguably near the top of their wishlist. It looks as though the Millwall man could be an option for them, following a fresh update.

Will Rangers sign Jake Cooper?

According to Football Insider, the Gers are eyeing a summer move for Cooper, having looked to snap him up back in 2018:

"Rangers have set their sights on signing Millwall defender Jake Cooper, sources have told Football Insider. Cooper, 28, is entering the final year of his contract at The Den and could be signed for a cut-price fee.

"Ibrox boss Michael Beale sees Cooper as a perfect addition to his squad as he looks to bolster his side’s defensive options."

This could be a really strong piece of business by Rangers, with Cooper now a hugely experienced defender who wouldn't be daunted by Scottish football, having held his own in such a tough league down the years.

His ability was once highlighted by current Millwall boss Gary Rowett, who said of the Englishman last year:

"I thought he was excellent today. As our captain, he gave a real leadership performance. And to cap it all with a goal that wins us the game was really nice."Cooper has all the tools to be a success for the Gers, not least his aforementioned leadership skills, and at 28, there is no reason why he can't be a fixture in the back-line for the next four or five years. Last season, the 6 foot 6 giant averaged 3.1 clearances per game in the Championship, starting 45 out of 46 league matches and featuring in the other.It is clear that progress still needs to be made at Ibrox this summer, considering Celtic remains the overriding favourites to retain their Scottish Premiership crown, but the acquiring the services of the Millwall stalwart could go a long way to making them a more formidable force.The fact that Cooper once represented England's Under-18s and Under-19s, winning three caps along the way, again outlines what a highly-rated young player he once was, and how influential a figure he could be at Ibrox if a move is agreed in the near future.

Newcastle United have enjoyed a fairly strong start to the Premier League season, humiliating Aston Villa on the opening day, 5-1 before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat against Premier League champions Manchester City.

Eddie Howe's side could get even better yet, too, with the transfer window coming to a close, and reports suggesting that the Magpies could make a last-gasp attempt to welcome another attacking reinforcement.

What's the latest Newcastle United transfer news?

So far this summer, Newcastle have welcomed a total of five fresh faces, with Harvey Barnes, Sandro Tonali, and, most-recently, Lewis Hall being the pick of the bunch.

Whilst Hall is still awaiting his debut after securing his move from Chelsea so recently, Barnes and Tonali have already impressed for their new club, scoring on their respective debuts against Aston Villa.

It comes as little surprise that Newcastle have added plenty of depth this summer, too, given that they've got Champions League football to contend with this season, as well as an attempt to make it back-to-back top four finishes in the Premier League.

Howe will know just how important it is to welcome as much quality as possible if he wants to compete on all fronts, and with that, could reportedly add one more reinforcement.

According to Spazio Napoli, as per Sport Witness, Newcastle could make a "last-minute" attempt to sign Napoli winger Hirving Lozano before the summer transfer window comes to an end.

The Mexican has found himself at somewhat of a crossroads in Italy with his contract coming to an end next summer, and Napoli keen to cash in, perhaps ending in a farewell in the coming days.

It remains to be seen just how much the Serie A champions would demand for Lonzano, but, given that his contract comes to an end next summer, it will not be an inflated price.

Should Newcastle United sign Hirving Lozano?

After losing Allan Saint-Maximin to Saudi Arabia this summer, Newcastle could certainly do with depth on the flanks, even after welcoming Barnes.

Lozano, like Saint-Maximin, is more of a direct option than others, with his take-on success sitting at 48.7% last season, and significantly better than Barnes' 29.7%. Saint-Maximin, meanwhile, had a take-on success rate of 57.6%.

At his best, Lozano is a player capable of causing havoc in one-on-one situations, and has earned plenty of praise when on top form in the past, including from former Napoli manager Luciano Spalleti.

Spalleti said, via American Post: "He is a splendid boy, above all, of a unique quality. But here everyone has that ability. He is very good, he has delayed his condition a bit in this championship due to the injury he suffered. Now I see him very motivated and smiling. I see him a bit like Osimhen, I see him in the right environment for him."

Read the latest Newcastle transfer news HERE…

With that said, everything points towards a player that Newcastle would do well in welcoming before the end of the transfer window. As things stand, however, their interest is that, and only that, as we wait and see whether they push on with a deal for Lozano.

Manchester United built their Premier League success under Sir Alex Ferguson by counting on the use of solid, dependable English centre-backs.

Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister formed the cornerstone of a team who claimed United’s first league title since 1967 during the 1992/93 season and as time went on, Ferguson turned to the transfer market to source local talent.

Rio Ferdinand made the move from Leeds United to Old Trafford in 2002 for a then British record transfer fee of £30m.

The move was a stroke of genius by the wily Scot as the defender won six Premier League titles and a Champions League crown under the tutelage of Ferguson, racking up 455 appearances in the process.

With the need for a dominant centre-back at United, could Erik ten Hag repeat United’s Ferdinand masterclass by making a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi?

Are Man United interested in Marc Guehi?

Ten Hag has already signed the club's new number seven, Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund this summer, yet it is clear he is after another defender or two.

Harry Maguire is edging closer to a move away from the Red Devils and this heightens the Dutchman’s need for some reinforcements.

Read the latest Man United transfer news HERE…

According to the Chris Wheeler of The Daily Mail, Guehi has emerged as a possible target for United, and he could cost Ten Hag a fee in the region of £60m.

How did Marc Guehi perform last season?

The Ivorian-born starlet enjoyed a solid campaign for Palace in 2022/23, exuding a positive influence across the squad for his performances, despite his tender years.

He ranked seventh among his teammates for tackles (1.4) per game while ranking second for interceptions (1.2) and for clearances (3.6) per game during the league campaign, demonstrating his defensive ability.

According to WhoScored, Guehi’s key strength is concentration, and he is able to maintain excellent standards during the whole course of a match, similar to Ferdinand, who never let standards slip.

The England international was previously lauded as an “absolute tank” by Josef Bursik, a former teammate during his time playing for the Three Lions' U21 side, while Statman Dave hailed the youngster as a “brilliant talent” in December 2021.

It’s evident that he has progressed since then, going on to win four caps for England at senior level, and he could be a key figure heading into the 2024 European Championship.

The £50k-per-week gem has served his apprenticeship at Palace and now seems destined for a move to the upper echelons of the Premier League.

He should take solace from the trajectory of Ferdinand. Although slightly more experienced at the time, a move from another top-flight side into an environment containing elite players arguably made him reach a much higher level – having blossomed into becoming arguably 'one of the greatest ball-playing central defenders of his era', according to the Premier League's official website.

Guehi may have a fight on his hands to go straight into the starting XI should Ten Hag secure his signature – amid the presence of Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane – and he could become their modern-day version of the 81-cap former United defender in the process.

Whatever happens, the Dutchman will need to act fast as the transfer window is due to shut in just under three weeks and time is slowly running out for the former Ajax manager.

Coach Chandrakant Pandit has taken Vidarbha to the final of the Ranji Trophy for the very first time, in his first season in charge

Akshay Gopalakrishnan in Kolkata21-Dec-20170:53

Quickinfo: Vidarbha’s Ranji season 2017/18

“You’re asking him in front of me? Obviously he’s going to say good. No choice.”Ever the hard taskmaster, Chandrakant Pandit butting in on Faiz Fazal was the source of no little mirth for the horde of reporters gathered at the Eden Gardens on Thursday. In his first season with them, Pandit has taken Vidarbha to the final of the Ranji Trophy for the very first time.It was the latest achievement in a hugely successful coaching career that has seen him thrive with several different teams. Pandit coached Mumbai to successive Ranji Trophy wins in 2002-03 and 2003-04. In his second stint with them, Mumbai under Pandit lifted the Ranji Trophy for the 41st time in 2015-16 and made the final the following year. Pandit has likewise had success as player-cum-coach with Madhya Pradesh, and more recently as director of the Kerala Cricket Academy, where he was responsible for bringing up new players such as Sanju Samson and Basil Thampi.

When the ball left (Aravind’s) the bat, it took me back to the shot Mahi [MS Dhoni] played in the 2011 World Cup and the silence that ensued until it crossed the boundaryFaiz Fazal

Coming from a team known for its players, Pandit inculcated the values of a good hard fight into this Vidarbha side. The lessons came through in a nail-biting finish to their semi-final against Karnataka. “I belong to a culture and a state that has a different mindset, which I wanted to inculcate in this team. And they have accepted it well,” he said. “More than anything, I think I always strived to lift the team and made sure that we enjoyed each other’s performances and stayed together for every activity the team does. I was probably instigating them to win matches. To bring in that self-belief was very important.”From day one, we were dreaming of this, and thanks to God and the players’ efforts, we are there. Cricket is not played from inside, from the boundary lines. Whatever we spoke and planned, they were keen to execute it. The courage they showed to fight, I think that was very important. Every individual has understood that. We are not celebrating; we are just expressing our joy at the way the team is playing. My team has played the toughest cricket in the entire season.”Vidarbha had taken out seven Karnataka wickets on the fourth evening. But Karnataka bat deep. Vinay Kumar has over 2500 runs and two first-class centuries. Shreyas Gopal averages 36 and struck his career-best score of 150 not out in the quarter-final against Mumbai. Even S Aravind, Karnataka’s least proficient batsman, has two half-centuries in first-class cricket.”It was a 50-50 game,” Pandit said. “In such a game, whoever shows desperation is going to lose and whoever shows patience is going to win. Making each individual understand his role is very important in such a situation. The kind of spirit they showed was tremendous. Making history at this ground, of course, will always be remembered.”When Aravind played into the hands of gully to finally settle a topsy-turvy clash – by a margin of five runs – there was to an outpouring of unadulterated joy from the Vidarbha camp.Just moments earlier, they had been bracing themselves for the eventuality of a semi-final exit. This could so easily have been a story of so close yet so far. “When the ball left (Aravind’s) the bat, it took me back to the shot Mahi [MS Dhoni] played in the 2011 World Cup and the silence that ensued until it crossed the boundary,” Fazal, their captain, said. “I felt that silence when the edge was drawn. In such high-pressure situations, performing simple tasks becomes very difficult.”Fazal has been an inspirational leader through this remarkable journey. A cursory glance at his first-class career will show you an average of 41.58 after 97 games. But what it doesn’t tell you is the quality of his runs; he scores them in tough, sometimes unplayable conditions. It is this ability that made the selectors turn to him to take over from S Badrinath as Vidarbha captain in 2016-17. Now, with 843 runs, Fazal is three short of making this his most productive Ranji season ever.Trailing him, and quite closely at that, is Sanjay Ramaswamy, his younger and very promising opening partner. The 22-year old had a solid season in 2016-17, but this year, he has racked up 735 runs at close to 67. He and Fazal are responsible for eight of Vidarbha’s 12 centuries and have been the most prolific opening combination in 2017-18.Both batsmen are excellent in defence, and pride themselves on being technically correct. But the similarities end there. “We’re absolute opposites, to be honest,” Fazal said with a laugh. “Like they say, opposites attract, and that’s going on in the middle. I’m enjoying his company and he is enjoying mine. Our minds have changed and our thinking has become very clear this season.”This clarity of thought has been one of the biggest takeaways from Pandit’s stint. Understanding why each player is in the side has given them a greater sense of purpose. Vidarbha opened with an innings-and-117-run win over Punjab. In all, they have won six out of eight matches this season, and barring the semi-final, each of the victories has been by a hefty margin. It is the sort of ruthlessness that hasn’t been associated with this team before.”It’s not just about being mentally tough, but also mentally clear,” Fazal said. “People were mentally tough earlier also, but it’s made a difference now because we’re clear in our heads. Sometimes, you need someone to run behind you with a stick, but the results are there for you to see now.”