Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Group Stage Concludes, Top 10 Teams Qualify for Knockouts

The group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 concluded on Sunday, January 5, with a dramatic finish that confirmed the top 10 teams for the knockout stages. This year’s tournament saw fierce competition, thrilling matches, and numerous records being shattered as teams battled for supremacy.

Knockout Qualification Format

The top six teams from the group stage directly advanced to the quarter-finals, while the teams ranked seventh to tenth will compete in the pre-quarterfinals. The winners of these pre-quarterfinals will join the top six in the quarter-finals, setting up an exciting series of knockout matches. All knockout matches will be hosted in Vadodara.

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Qualified Teams and Rankings (1-10)

1. Gujarat – 28 points (Group A topper)

2. Maharashtra – 24 points (+1.75) (Group B topper)

3. Vidarbha – 24 points (+1.55) (Group D topper)

4. Karnataka – 24 points (+1.37) (Group C topper)

5. Baroda – 20 points (Group E topper)

6. Punjab – 24 points (+2.167) (2nd place in Group C)

7. Haryana – 24 points (+0.726) (2nd place in Group A)

8. Rajasthan – 20 points (2nd place in Group B)

9. Tamil Nadu – 18 points (2nd place in Group D)

10. Bengal – 18 points (2nd place in Group E)

Knockout Stage Schedule

Pre-Quarterfinals (January 9, 2025):

• Pre Quarter-final 1: Haryana vs Bengal – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

• Pre Quarter-final 2: Rajasthan vs Tamil Nadu – Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

Quarterfinals:

• January 11, 2025:

  • Quarter-final 3: Vidarbha vs Punjab – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

  • Quarter-final 4: Karnataka vs Baroda – Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

• January 12, 2025:

  • Quarter-final 1: Gujarat vs Winner of Pre Quarter-final 1 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

  • Quarter-final 2: Maharashtra vs Winner of Pre Quarter-final 2 – Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

Semifinals:

• January 15, 2025: Semi-final 1: Winner of Quarter-final 1 vs Winner of Quarter-final 4 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM IST

• January 16, 2025: Semi-final 2: Winner of Quarter-final 2 vs Winner of Quarter-final 3 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM IST

Final:

• January 18, 2025: Final – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM IST

Thrilling End to Group Stage

The final round of group matches delivered edge-of-the-seat excitement, with several games going down to the wire. Teams left no stone unturned to secure their spots, making it a nail-biting conclusion to the group stage. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Karnataka, and Baroda topped their respective groups to directly qualify for the quarter-finals, while Punjab earned their place as the best-ranked second-placed team.

Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Bengal secured their spots in the pre-quarterfinals after commendable performances throughout the group stage.