SMAT 2025-26: Ten Teams Vie for Coveted Super League Quartet

As the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 domestic tournament approaches the conclusion of its group stage, 10 teams are still vying for the four Super League spots available before the final round on Monday.

From Group A, defending champions Mumbai and Andhra have already secured their positions in the Super League, alongside Jharkhand and Rajasthan from Group D. This eight-team phase is set to kick off on Friday in Pune.

In Group B, the competition remains intense, with six teams competing for the top two slots in Kolkata. Currently leading the table, Hyderabad, the only team in the group with five victories, looks to advance to the next round as they face Chandigarh, a team that has managed just two wins from six matches and is positioned seventh.

Rajat Patidar’s Madhya Pradesh and Goa, ranked second and third with four wins each, will battle for the remaining spot against Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra, respectively. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir, each with three wins, have a slim chance of advancing. Meanwhile, Bihar, the only team without a win in the Elite division after six games, seeks to avoid relegation along with Himachal Pradesh, Services, and Tripura, all of whom have secured just one win each.

In Hyderabad’s Group C, the scenario is clearer. Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, and Bengal all have four points. With Haryana facing Bengal, and Punjab taking on Gujarat, the stage is set for a thrilling final-round face-off for the top two positions. However, Punjab might struggle without its star opener, Abhishek Sharma.

Mumbai and Andhra will use their matches against Vidarbha and Odisha, respectively, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, to prepare for the next round. Both teams, with five victories each, will vie for the top spot in Group A. Kerala aims to end on a high note after a disappointing batting display against Andhra, though they will be without their captain, Sanju Samson, due to national commitments.

Undefeated so far, Ishan Kishan’s Jharkhand will take on Rajasthan in Ahmedabad in a match-up of the competition’s powerhouses. Meanwhile, three-time champions Tamil Nadu, struggling in seventh place in Group D, will only be battling to avoid last place—a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of professional sports and the value of consistency in T20 cricket.

Published on Dec 07, 2025.