SMAT 2025-26: The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 will go down as one of the most explosive editions in Indian domestic cricket history. From record-breaking team totals to unprecedented individual feats, the season showcased how rapidly India's T20 game continues to evolve.
Jharkhand's commanding 69-run victory over Haryana in the final at Pune was a fitting conclusion to a tournament dominated by aggressive intent and statistical milestones.
Historic Final and Unmatched Team Totals
Jharkhand's 262 for 3 in the final was a landmark moment. It became the highest total ever recorded in a T20 final worldwide, surpassing Italy's 244/4 from 2024. The score also ranked as the second-highest total in any T20 knockout match, underlining the fearless batting approach that defined the season.
Ishan Kishan's Record-Setting Campaign
At the centre of Jharkhand's triumph was Ishan Kishan, who delivered one of the greatest individual seasons in SMAT history. The wicketkeeper-captain piled up 517 runs in 10 innings at a staggering strike rate near 200, finishing as the tournament's top scorer.
Kishan smashed five centuries, the joint-most in SMAT history, all while keeping wickets. Only Quinton de Kock has more T20 hundreds as a wicketkeeper in men's cricket. His tally also ranks third for most runs in a single edition of the tournament.
Bowling Excellence Amid Batting Dominance
Despite the batting-friendly conditions, bowlers had their moments. Ashok Sharma (Rajasthan) and Sushant Mishra (Jharkhand) finished with 22 wickets each, the joint-highest haul ever in one SMAT season. Sharma got a Gujarat Titans contract for the upcoming season. Haryana and CSK's Anshul Kamboj followed closely with 21 wickets, highlighting the impact of disciplined pace bowling.
All-Round Impact from Anukul Roy
Jharkhand all-rounder Anukul Roy produced a rare all-phase performance, scoring 303 runs and claiming 18 wickets. Only Harshal Patel has previously achieved 300-plus runs and 15-plus wickets in a single SMAT edition, placing Roy in elite company.
Standout Batters Beyond the Champions
Haryana's Ankit Kumar rediscovered his touch in the shortest format, finishing as the second-highest run-getter with 448 runs at a strike rate above 170. Punjab's Salil Arora lit up the tournament with a strike rate of 198.88, the highest among batters with over 350 runs. Due to his performances, he has earned a move to SRH for the upcoming IPL season.
Collective Records
The 2025-26 season shattered multiple aggregate records. A total of 1,884 sixes were struck - the most in any T20 competition globally. The overall scoring rate of 8.59 runs per over made it the fastest-scoring edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to date.
