Karnataka vs Vidarbha: Key Details for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 Final

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 has reached its finishing stage after an exciting series of matches. The much anticipated final will see Karnataka face Vidarbha in a battle for the title. Here's everything you need to know about the big match, including the schedule, venue, and live streaming details.

In their semi-final clash, Vidarbha delivered a dominant performance against Maharashtra. Karun Nair was the star of the match, smashing an incredible 88 runs off just 44 balls, featuring 9 fours and 5 sixes. His explosive innings helped Vidarbha post a massive total of 380 runs. Maharashtra, in response, managed only 311 runs, falling short of the target. Nair's outstanding form in the tournament has been a game-changer for Vidarbha, with 752 runs to his name so far, making him one of the key reasons for the team’s success.

Karnataka, on the other hand, secured their spot in the final with an impressive victory over Haryana. This marks Karnataka’s fifth appearance in a Vijay Hazare Trophy final, showcasing their consistent performance throughout the tournament.  

ALSO READ: Dinesh Karthik reasons why in-form Karun Nair can't be added to Indian ODI team

VHT Final Match Details:

When and Where to Watch KAR vs VID:

Reliance Stadium Pitch Report:

Official Umpires for Match:

KAR vs VID Squads:

The Indian cricket team is a little slow in telling everyone who's going to play in the ICC Champions Trophy. They've asked for more time to decide because they want to wait until after the Vijay Hazare Trophy final is over. Recently, half of the teams out of the 12 that are joining the tournament have shared their member lists, but India and Pakistan haven't talked about it. Teams had until January 12 to say who's going to play, but it looks like India could tell who is playing a bit after that, if something surprising occurs.

The BCCI selection committee is scheduled to meet on January 19, the day following the Vijay Hazare Trophy final, to discuss the squad. It is expected that the squad will be announced on the same day. The selectors have chosen to wait until the tournament concludes to select the strongest possible 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy.

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Team India's likely squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 :

Rohit Sharma (C)
Virat Kohli
Shubman Gill
Yashshvi Jaiswal
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Hardik Pandya (WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah (VC)
Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Shami
Arshdeep… pic.twitter.com/hOMoF9emWC

— Akshay Tadvi 🇮🇳 (@AkshayTadvi28) January 7, 2025

India Delays Squad Announcement to Ensure the Best Selection

Because Team India didn't do well in the ODI World Cup, they really want to use their top players for the next ICC Champions Trophy. The people choosing the team at BCCI have pushed back when they'll say who's on the team until after the Vijay Hazare Trophy is over.

Rohit Sharma, India’s current captain, is expected to lead the team and could have the opportunity to win his final ICC trophy for India. In 2023, India reached the World Cup final but was defeated by Australia in Ahmedabad. Despite some inconsistent performances, both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are likely to be included in the squad for the Champions Trophy. However, there are concerns over the fitness of two key bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah, who suffered a back injury during the 5th Test against Australia in Sydney, and Kuldeep, who is dealing with a groin issue, may not be fully fit in time for the tournament, leaving their availability uncertain.

Karun Nair's Resurgence: A Remarkable Return to Form and Selectors' Spotlight

Karun Nair's Remarkable Resurgence

Karun Nair is performing well in local cricket games, and now the people choosing players for the national team are really thinking scrupulously about him. It's very appropriate, especially when you ponder regarding how Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli aren't doing their best in test matches these days and India is trying to find its way.

After being left out and going through times when nobody knew what would happen with his career, Nair's comeback has everyone excited about the chance he might get called back to play for the country again.

The Emotional Tweet and Journey Back

In December 2022, Nair was extremely unhappy and went on Twitter to ask for another shot at cricket, because the team had dropped him even though he scored 300 runs in a single game in 2016 against England. For the months that followed, he was fully committed, working utterly hard or diligently at Just Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

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He was mainly trying to raise his game and focus his mind for batting, especially since he wasn't getting to play any matches.

Karun Nair - The fighter!🔥👏 pic.twitter.com/OPDFiMdnTi

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) January 12, 2025

Dominating the Vijay Hazare Trophy

In the current Vijay Hazare Trophy, Nair is doing a great job by scoring unbeaten runs everywhere. He's put up some anomalous numbers, including hitting five centuries in a row, which is extremely unusual for List A cricket. His scores have been 112, 44, 163, 111, 112, and 122. He's scored an amazing 664 runs without getting out even once, setting records for the most runs in List A cricket without being dismissed.

Nair's been playing really well and the selectors have noticed, especially now when India's cricket team is having some new things happen. With the team's major names, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, under a lot of pressure, there's a lot of discussion about Nair possibly getting picked for the Champions Trophy, or maybe even the Test tour of England in 2025.

Path to Vidarbha and Opportunities for Revival

Abey Kuruvilla, who once played for India, came in during a shaky time and gave Nair a spot on Vidarbha's team for him to prove his skills again. With some solid performances in the Ranji Trophy and an impressive season at Northamptonshire in county cricket, it's clear Nair is very fit.

Nair's determination to rebuild his career after years of struggles illustrates his resilience. His ability to overcome setbacks and stay focused on improving his game has earned him recognition, potentially setting him up for a long-awaited return to the Indian team. As selectors look for fresh talent, Nair’s journey could inspire many others facing similar challenges in their cricketing careers.

Karun Nair Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

Karun Nair Hits Fourth Consecutive Century, Leads Vidarbha to Vijay Hazare Trophy Semi-Finals

Karun Nair really demonstrated his skills in the Vijay Hazare Trophy by hitting his fourth century in a row, which helped Vidarbha win comfortably against Rajasthan by nine wickets, during the quarter-finals. This amazing performance took place at the Motibaug Cricket Ground in Vadodara. By doing this, Nair made it into the record books. Mr. Nair is now only the third player from India and the fifth in the world to achieve four consecutive centuries in List A cricket.

A Historic Innings

Vidarbha was trying to reach a very big goal of 292 runs that Rajasthan had put up. Their game started nicely with Yash Rathod and Dhruv Shorey working together right at the start. They obtained a strong partnership of 92 runs. When Rathod got out, Nair came in to bat at the third spot and started doing a great job right from the start. Shorey, who also contributed a hundred in 114 balls, was very helpful--but it was Nair who really held the innings together. Nair reached his century in just 77 balls, striking 11 boundaries and clearing the ropes three times. His blistering knock culminated in an explosive finish as he hammered 24 runs off just five deliveries against Khaleel Ahmed, including three fours and two towering sixes. Vidarbha completed the chase in just 43.3 overs, securing their place in the semi-finals with a commanding performance.

An Unstoppable Force

An Unstoppable For After Yash Rathod got out, Nair came in to bat at third position and began scoring runs immediately. Vidarbha was trying to reach a tough total of 292 runs that Rajasthan had put up. With Dhruv Shorey at his side, who knocked a hundred off 114 balls, Nair really led the team's effort to chase down the score. At the beginning, the team did well at first because Rathod and Shorey made a strong 92-run stand together. Chattisgarh, helping Vidarbha dominate their Group D fixtures and advance to the knockouts with an unblemished record.

Notably, Nair broke a world record during the league stage, achieving the highest aggregate runs in List A cricket without being dismissed. His consistent contributions have been instrumental in Vidarbha’s campaign, earning him widespread acclaim as one of the tournament’s standout performers.

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- 112*(108).
- 44*(52).
- 163*(107).
- 111*(103).
- 112(101).
- 122*(82) in Quarterfinal.

Captain Karun Nair has 664 Average in this Vijay Hazare Trophy & taking his team in Semifinal - KARUN NAIR, 2.0..!!!! 🥶🫡 pic.twitter.com/hdxcC7eNG1

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 12, 2025

Most consecutive List-A centuries

Joining the Elite Club

Nair hit four centuries in a row and has now become part of a very unique group of cricket players who've done the same thing in List A cricket. Before him, in India, the only ones to accomplish this were Devdutt Padikkal during the 2020-21 season and Narayan Jagadeesan in the 2022-23 season. And when it comes to scoring five centuries in one Vijay Hazare Trophy season, Jagadeesan is still the best by himself.

Also scoring four straight centuries in List A matches--but not in India, were Kumar Sangakkara from Sri Lanka and Alviro Petersen from South Africa.

With Vidarbha now in the semi-finals, Nair’s form will be pivotal as they aim to lift the coveted Vijay Hazare Trophy. His extraordinary achievements have already cemented his place as one of the premier batsmen in domestic cricket this season. Fans and teammates alike will be hoping that Nair’s purple patch continues, propelling Vidarbha to ultimate glory.

As Vidarbha’s captain and talisman, Nair’s performances have transcended the boundaries of individual excellence, serving as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers and a testament to the power of determination and skill. The cricketing world watches eagerly to see what the next chapter holds in his remarkable journey.

Padikkal Shines in Vijay Hazare Trophy with a Stunning Century

After not doing too well in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Devdutt Padikkal really showed what he's capable of in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Mr. Padikkal scored a fantastic century in the quarter-final against Baroda, marking a great comeback in domestic cricket. Starting the game with Mayank Agarwal for Karnataka, who was out of the game quickly scoring only six runs, Padikkal stepped up and led the charge in the match.

He formed a crucial partnership of 133 runs with Anis KV, who contributed 52 runs. Padikkal reached his century in 96 balls, finishing with a total of 102 runs off 99 deliveries, which included two sixes and 15 fours. His strike rate of 103.03 helped Karnataka set a solid foundation, and his performance was a highlight of the match.

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Padikkal's Consistency and Rise in List A Cricket

Padikkal just hit his ninth century in List A cricket and now he's obtained a total of 1,977 runs, averaging over 81. That's really wonderful. In 30 List A innings, he's managed to score 50 runs or more 20 times, showing he is a very trustworthy first position hitter. Even though he didn't do great in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his amazing plays in the Vijay Hazare Trophy show he's ready to take on more challenges.

With how well he has been performing in the domestic games, it looks like Padikkal's going to get some wonderful chances in Indian cricket soon.

🚨 HUNDRED BY DEVDUTT PADIKKAL IN THE QUARTER FINALS OF VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY. 🚨 pic.twitter.com/oRFuzcxwCz

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 11, 2025

Conclusion: A Promising Future Ahead for Padikkal

After having a rough time in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Devdutt Padikkal turned things around with an amazing hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This not only got him in form but also showed everyone he's really one of the brightest young stars India cricket might have. Mr. Padikkal did great against Baroda, showing he can do well again after a problem.

Padikkal's obtained an amazing List A record too, with a large amount of hundreds and a great batting average, making it clear he's quickly turning into a person who will help Indian cricket be great in the future. If he keeps going like this, he will surely get more opportunities to play in other countries, so we should all watch him closely to see what happens next.

Devdutt Padikkal Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

What a Spell by Arshdeep Singh!

Arshdeep Dazzles in Vijay Hazare Trophy Quarter-Final

Arshdeep Singh, the fast bowler from Punjab, performed well at the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final last Saturday on January 11. By demonstrating his great ability to swing and seam the ball right in the beginning against Maharashtra, he really made everyone think he should be picked for India's Champions Trophy team.

Early Breakthroughs with Swing and Precision

Arshdeep performed well when he got the new ball, showing everyone how he can make it swing in both directions. He mastered it by clean-bowling Ruturaj Gaikwad and then was imbued with a high level of pride about how he got Siddesh Veer out. First, he kept throwing outswingers at Veer, then suddenly, he made one ball swing in and instantly, Veer edged it and had to leave. He completely spoiled Maharashtra's top batters.

Impressive Figures and a Terrific Spell

Arshdeep's been doing very well in domestic cricket because he's always the same and proficient at controlling the game. In just seven matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has caught 19 wickets! That is even better than Varun Chakravarthy's record for the season. In addition, his start was amazing, catching 5 wickets and only giving up 21 runs in his first spell. And in his last couple of games, against Hyderabad and Puducherry, he took down four wickets each time.

Everybody's talking about how great Arshdeep would be for India's ODI and Test teams, not only his fans but even the experts. He's already doing great in T20I cricket, but what really shows he's ready for everything is how well he's playing in both domestic and county cricket. Because he's always doing a great job, people really think he should be picked for the Champions Trophy team.

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WHAT A SPELL BY ARSHDEEP SINGH 🥶

- Arshdeep gets Ruturaj in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Quarters.

Arshdeep is making a big case for Champions Trophy squad ⚡ pic.twitter.com/4R8DXPQvqF

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 11, 2025

Maharashtra’s Recovery After Arshdeep’s Magic

Arshdeep Singh knows how to remain calm and do very well when it matters the most, proving he could be of significant consequence in cricket for India in all the different game types. Even though Arshdeep knocked out some early players, Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne didn't let that rattle them. They stuck there and built a strong stand for Maharashtra.

This man, Arshdeep, with his killer combo of swerving the ball, pinpoint aim, and calm demeanor, is definitely someone to watch closely as he climbs the ranks in cricket, both in India and around the globe. At the moment, Ruturaj Gaikwad's peer group is making things better, with the scoreboard reading 139/2 after 31.3 overs.

Arshdeep Singh Career Stats

Bowling

Extraordinary scenes of carnage ensued at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara during the second pre-quarterfinal match of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 between Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. In their pursuit of 268 in the second innings, Tamil Nadu got off to a blistering start as Jagadeesan went on a rampage. Despite losing Raheja and Vaishna Kumar early,  Jagadeesan looks all set to get his side over the line in this intense run chase. 

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Jagadeesan punishes Shekhawat with a 29-run over

During the second over of the run chase, Jagadeesan targeted Shekhawat in his very first over plundering him for a whopping 39 runs. At the start of the over, the scorecard read 10-0 and in the blink of an eye, it changed to 39-0. 

Shekhawat's first ball of the over was not counted as a legal ball as he conceded 4 WIDES. But his next six deliveries were all dispatched towards the boundary. Shekhawat erred on the shorter side and bowled waywardly which allowed Jagadeesan to latch on to some freebies. His first three legal deliveries were short and wide which Jagadeesan drilled airborne through the off side and his last three legal deliveries were too straight on the pads which were dealt with quite effectively by the swashbuckling batter. 

4⃣wd,4⃣,4⃣,4⃣,4⃣,4⃣,4⃣

29-run over! 😮

N Jagadeesan smashed 6⃣ fours off 6⃣ balls in the second over to provide a blistering start for Tamil Nadu 🔥#VijayHazareTrophy | @IDFCFIRSTBank
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/pSVoNE63b2 pic.twitter.com/JzXIAUaoJt

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 9, 2025

Jagadeesan continues to go on his merry way

At the time of writing, Jagadeesan was still going strong from strength to strength and had reached a score of 52* in only 39 balls which featured nine fours. He was in the midst of orchestrating a useful third-wicket partnership with Indrajith to keep Tamil Nadu afloat in the run chase. At this point,  Tamil Nadu were only 182 runs away from victory and had 35 overs to get to their target. 

The five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy series comes to a close and the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, and Abhimanyu Easwaran will all fly back to India and join their respective domestic teams to partake in the knockout phase of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy from January 9 in Vadodara. Washington Sundar, who was a key part of the visiting Indian team down under might be able to feature from the semi-finals onwards if Tamil Nadu gets to that stage.

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Abhimanyu travels a day earlier than Padikkal and Prasidh

It is expected that both Padikkal and Prasidh will fly out from Sydney with the rest of the Indian squad on Wednesday. But surprisingly, Abhimanyu was recalled a day earlier by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), and a flight was booked for him so that he was able to join his state squad in Vadodara after stops in Singapore and Ahmedabad.  

Abhimanyu will take part in the training drills with his Bengal squad ahead of their pre-quarter-final fixture against Haryana. Akash Deep, the other CAB player in the Indian squad sustained a back niggle which kept him out of the fifth and final Test. Understandably so, he will not play any role for Bengal for the remainder of the tournament. 

Padikkal and Prasidh to join Karnataka squad by Januray 10

Karnataka is slated to play their quarter-final game against Baroda on January 11. It is believed that both Padikkal and Prasidh are expected to be back in the squad no later than January 10. Initially included solely in the India A team that was participating in a preparatory tour before the Border-Gavaskar series, Padikkal was later incorporated into the Test squad due to Rohit Sharma's delayed arrival resulting from the birth of his son. Padikkal played a role in India's victory by 295 runs in Perth; however, he was not selected for any of the following Test matches.

The back injury of Akash Deep opened the door for Prasidh Krishna in the fifth and final Test in SCG. He was a standout performer with the ball in Bumrah's absence and finished with six wickets comprising the dismissal of Steve Smith in both innings.  

Rishi Dhawan, who is 34 and plays cricket for Himachal Pradesh, decided to retire from the shorter versions of cricket just after the Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage was over. Although he only played for India in four games—three of them were ODIs and one was a T20I in 2016—he still made a major impact in cricket games within India.

For Himachal Pradesh this season, Dhawan has been amazing. He obtained 397 runs in just five matches, which means his batting average is extremely high at 79.40. Not simply that, he also took 11 wickets, and each one cost about 28.45 runs on average. His team is actually performing well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and they're now second in Group B.

They're working very hard to get to the quarter-finals.

Dhawan shared the news on social media, stating:

“It’s not easy to say goodbye, but I have no regrets as I announce my retirement from Indian limited-overs cricket. Cricket has shaped my life for the past 20 years, bringing me endless joy and unforgettable memories that I will always cherish.”

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rishi Dhawan (@rishidhawan19)

Dhawan was very grateful to the Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL teams he played for. He also expressed his graduate to the BCCI and Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Reflecting on how much he has learned and grown.

“From starting with nothing to representing India on the biggest stage, it’s been an incredible privilege. Cricket has been my passion and the reason I woke up every day. I want to thank all my coaches, mentors, teammates, and support staff for helping me become the person I am today.”

Helping Himachal Pradesh win their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2021-22 season really stood out in Rishi Dhawan's career. Mr. Dhawan was doing very well, obtaining 458 runs and taking 17 wickets across just eight games. Because of his amazing skills both in hitting and fielding, he was ranked the second-best player of the season in both categories.

This means he's one of the rare players to be in the top five for both obtaining and taking out opponents. So far, this win is still the only domestic trophy Himachal Pradesh has gotten.

Rishi Dhawan had a very big moment in his career when he led Himachal Pradesh to their first Vijay Hazare Trophy win in the 2021-22 season. Mr. Dhawan performed well by scoring 458 runs and getting 17 wickets across just eight games. Because of his amazing performance in both batting and bowling, he ended up being the second-best player of the season.

This made him one of the rare players to be in the top five for both runs and wickets. Himachal Pradesh winning the trophy is their only domestic victory so far.

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Rishi Dhawan's Cricket Career Stats Across Formats

Rishi Dhawan has announced his retirement from limited-overs cricket, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable contributions to both the Indian and Himachal Pradesh cricket teams. In the IPL, he was part of the Mumbai Indians squad in 2013 before representing the Punjab Kings from 2014 to 2024. Over the course of 39 IPL matches, he scored 210 runs and took 25 wickets, showcasing his value as a dependable all-rounder.

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.