Dynamic Duo: Pandya and Sharma Lead Dominant Wins in SMAT Round 5

The fifth round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 took place on Thursday, notable for Kerala’s unexpected victory over Mumbai. Despite being the defending champions, Mumbai’s much-vaunted batting lineup collapsed late, failing to chase down 179 runs against the team led by Sanju Samson.

In Group D, Ayush Badoni made a significant impact by scoring a half-century and taking four wickets, leading Delhi to a commanding win over Karnataka. Meanwhile, Riyan Parag’s struggles in the tournament persisted as he managed only five runs in Assam’s victory over Vidarbha.

Performance of Team India’s stars in the fifth round:

Hardik Pandya: Pandya was economical in his four-over spell against Gujarat, conceding only 16 runs and claiming the crucial wicket of Urvil Patel. Gujarat was dismissed for just 73, and Hardik’s 10 off six balls contributed to Baroda’s eight-wicket victory.

Abhishek Sharma: Abhishek provided Punjab a blazing start against Pondicherry, scoring 34 runs off nine balls. He also excelled with his bowling, taking three wickets for 23 runs, helping Punjab secure a 54-run victory after putting up 192.

Sanju Samson: Samson contributed significantly with a 46 off 28, showcasing decisive back-foot shots against Mumbai. He also executed a crucial stumping of Shivam Dube and demonstrated strategic captaincy, helping Kerala achieve a 15-run win.

Suryakumar Yadav: Although Suryakumar had the opportunity to drive Mumbai to victory, he fell to K.M. Asif after scoring 32 off 25 with four boundaries. Despite a promising partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Sarfaraz Khan, Mumbai lost their momentum following a cascade of wickets.

B Sai Sudharsan: Sudharsan’s difficult season continued as he scored just five runs off seven deliveries, contributing to Tamil Nadu’s collapse at 26 for four. Nevertheless, he and Jagadeesan later stabilized the innings with a substantial fifth-wicket partnership.

Mohammed Shami: Shami returned to form, taking four wickets for 13 runs against Services, including a wicket on the first ball. This effort restricted Services to 165, and Abishek Porel’s 56 off 29 balls helped Bengal secure a seven-wicket victory.

Rinku Singh: Rinku scored a swift 24 off 10 balls, assisting UP in setting a total of 212 against Chandigarh. Madhav Kaushik emerged as the top batter for UP with 70 off 42 deliveries, leading to a 40-run triumph for UP.

Published on December 4, 2025.