Highlighting SMAT 2025-26: The Top 5 Standouts from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20

Jharkhand secured its first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title with a commanding 69-run victory over Haryana at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday.

The T20 tournament served as a platform to spotlight India’s future cricket stars and offered a chance for players like Ishan Kishan and Sarfaraz Khan to regain attention. With the event preceding the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, domestic players were eager to showcase their talents and secure a spot in the world’s most prestigious T20 league.

Here are the top five performers from the 2025-26 season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy:

Ishan Kishan | Jharkhand

Leading Jharkhand with distinction, Ishan Kishan amassed 517 runs across 10 innings at a phenomenal strike rate of 197.32, including a remarkable 45-ball century in the final against Haryana. Kishan’s exceptional form featured two centuries and two fifties, instrumental in Jharkhand’s triumph in the tournament.

Ashok Sharma | Rajasthan

Ashok Sharma had an outstanding tournament, taking 22 wickets in 10 matches, setting a new record for the most wickets by a bowler in a single Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy edition. The fast bowler, known for his high speeds, earned his first Indian Premier League (IPL) contract when Gujarat Titans signed him for Rs. 90 lakh at the recent auction.

Anukul Roy | Jharkhand

Anukul Roy shone brightly in the tournament, contributing over 300 runs with the bat alongside 18 wickets. He played a crucial role in leading Jharkhand to victory. His standout batting performance came against Karnataka, where his unbeaten 95 secured a sensational win for Jharkhand on a day when no other teammate surpassed 15 runs. As a bowler, his left-arm spin was highly effective, with an economy rate of just 7.34 runs per over, making him the team’s second-highest wicket-taker.

Ankit Kumar | Haryana

Despite a challenging start in the Ranji Trophy, averaging 12.77 over nine innings, Ankit Kumar returned to form in the T20 format, ending as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer. He accumulated 448 runs at a robust strike rate of 172.30, including five fifties. However, he couldn’t lead his team to victory in the final, falling for a golden duck.

Salil Arora | Punjab

Salil Arora, the wicketkeeper-batter from Punjab, dazzled with his power-hitting prowess, accumulating 358 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 198.88, the highest among batsmen with at least 350 runs in the tournament. His explosive innings included an unbeaten 125 off 45 balls against the eventual champions, Jharkhand, leading to his acquisition by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 1.50 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.

Published on Dec 18, 2025